My name is Natalya. I am 19. I was born in Ivano-Frankivsk in Western Ukraine. My family lived in Chernivtsi. When I was 5, my grandad passed away. Eight months later on October 5, 1996 I lost my precious mom. Right after the funeral my granny took me to Chortkiv to stay with her. My father renounced me. I haven't seen him since October 1996. He has not visited me, or given us any support ever since. My granny became my only family.

The shock I had gone through as a little child then developed in significant heart problems and I ended up in a hospital bed for a whole month. By that time my granny was a retired person, but didn't receive her due pension on regular basis. However, she tried very hard to take care of me as much as she could, still wasn't able to provide even enough food to eat.

By God's Grace one of the nurses in the hospital advised my granny to address Anna Netrebyuk who had been volunteering for the Chalice sponsorship programme in the area. She embraced me under her motherly wing. Before long I got sponsored and sponsorship has become real blessing for me and my granny. My sponsor has become like my family and my second mother. Her love and support helped me to get through the times of my disease and serious surgery. Sponsorship has become a strong incentive for my academic achievements, as I became a straight A student at school.

After 9 years of study I graduated with distinction, and even didn't hesitate about my future career. I love children a lot, so I chose to become a teacher at a junior school. I entered Chortkiv Pedagogical Vocational School in 2006 and this May I will be graduating, again with distinction. My desire to remain an A student at the School was also motivated by the scholarship which I have received from the Sponsorship Programme all four years of my study. As a student I have participated in the various language contests only to have become a winner.  Beside my study, I am teaching children at the local elementary school as part of my academic training, and enjoy that very much.

I have been sponsored for 10 years already, and my life has improved so much for us. Over the years of sponsorship I never starved, or wore ragged clothes, never missed school, and never felt miserable. I hold dear everything I have benefited from while I have been sponsored. Besides, owing to sponsorship my granny could get our flat renovated to have replaced the windows and the doors. She is 72, and she suffers from high blood pressure and heart aches. At home I am there for her, helping her with any chore.

Truly, sponsorship filled the gap after I had lost my parents, and has granted me the love I will always keep in my heart. I have grown stronger spiritually and am more confident of tomorrow.  

Every time I am in church at mass I praise God and pray for my family, my dearest sponsor and all the people who have helped me through the most difficult time of my life. May God continue to bless you! 

Forever grateful,

Natalya

Chortkiv, Ternopil Region

Ukraine