Beautiful young Iryna was the first daughter born to her parents. They were already wrangling three sons by the time she came along, and it was, well, a lot. With a baby and three young boys, her mother Olha gave up her job as a music teacher to focus on being a full-time mom. Despite Iryna’s father working as a driver, the family struggled […]
Category Archives: Ukraine
12
Nov
Nov
Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world. Have you ever heard of ‘No-spend November?’ Or ‘Movember?’ November is the month of challenges, and the people at our Ukraine site in Europe have faced their fair share of challenges. But that doesn’t mean challenges can’t be […]
10
Nov
Nov
Like most teenage girls, Viktoriya enjoys reading, painting and chatting with friends online. Despite facing challenges due to a disability, she approaches life with bravery and tenacity, and lives near our Ternopil site in Ukraine. When she was still little, her parents noticed she struggled with her mobility. A doctor confirmed she was born with a congenital abnormality […]
05
Nov
Nov
Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world. Having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card! That’s right: tomorrow is World Book Lovers’ Day, and we’re here to celebrate with a special Photo Friday in its honour. Teaching a child to love books is one of the best gifts you can give – and […]
03
Nov
Nov
This might be a sports story, but it’s not your cliché sports story. Some kids grow up hearing the words ‘touchdown’ alongside phrases like ‘She shoots, she scores!’ before they can even walk. But in the Ukraine, there are often barriers to playing sports that keep some kids on the bench. Take Kyrylo. He’s dreamed of being an athlete since he was […]
01
Nov
Nov
Pierogi (also called varenyky) stuffed with potatoes and bacon is one of the most iconic Ukrainian recipes, and families have been enjoying this savoury dish for centuries. The dumplings are often mentioned in Ukrainian folklore songs and literature. Each Ukrainian host has his or her own recipe for pierogis, but the cooking method remains the […]
30
Jun
Jun
When you parent two children with special needs, the way Svitlana and Volodymyur do, you learn to appreciate the small things. For them, it’s the happiness and victories of their kids. The faithful parents carry deep trust and support for one another, and their bond has helped them through the hard times. Living near our […]
16
Jun
Jun
Poultry, pigs and potatoes: that’s what life looks like these days for the Horodetska family. The family of six lives near our sponsor site in Ternopil, and they’ve grown their home farm to include cows, goats and more. But it took a bit of time, and a few special gifts, to get there. Kateryna, the […]
03
Mar
Mar
At our Ternopil site in Ukraine, the modern gift of electric stoves are keeping families fed and cozy year-round in the comfort of their homes. In Canada, stoves are essential household appliances that many families rely on daily to cook safe, convenient meals. In rural Ukraine, however, cooking can be much more complicated. “In […]
16
Sep
Sep
When Khrystyna was growing up, her family lived a humble life. Her father worked part-time as a construction worker while her mother stayed home to care for her and her younger brother, Yuri. The family shared one bedroom in Khrysytna’s grandfather’s house, as they couldn’t afford a home of their own. They didn’t have enough […]