As we look ahead, many new stories of courage and need continue to reach us. Each story represents a life, a family, a dream. We invite you to join us in turning compassion into action by donating, sponsoring a cause, or sharing these stories of hope and our mission. Your kindness creates light and hope where it's needed most. Let's write the next chapter of healing together!
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The Story of Yevstratieva Valentyna Yevstratieva Valentyna Ivanivna was born on January 31, 1929, in the town of Reshetylivka, Poltava region of Ukraine. In 1939, her family moved to Chernivtsi. At 96 years old, she has lived through war, loss, hardship — and moments of great love, learning, and purpose. Today, she lives quietly in Chernivtsi with her eldest daughter. She continues to create cross-stitch embroidery by hand — one of her lifelong passions — and cherish every new day with gratitude. With the start of World War II, she was forced to evacuate, and after the war ended, she returned to her hometown. Valentyna Ivanivna’s older brothers fought on the front lines, and her younger brother returned from the war disabled — he had lost a leg. After finishing school, Valentyna Ivanivna enrolled at Chernivtsi State University, but due to chronic pneumonia, she transferred to the Simferopol Pedagogical Institute, where the climate was more favorable for her health. She was an excellent student, graduated with honors, and for her outstanding academic performance was assigned to work at a secondary school in Sevastopol — such an appointment was considered a real honor at the time. In 1951, Valentyna Ivanivna married a naval officer. The couple raised two daughters, born in 1953 and 1960. After the sudden death of her husband in 1967, she was left alone with the children. In 1969, she moved with her daughters to Chernivtsi, where her older brothers lived. Until her retirement in 1984, Valentyna Ivanivna worked as a chemistry teacher. Her students remember her as a wise, demanding, yet incredibly kind educator who not only taught but also knew how to support, listen, and give advice. Throughout her life, Valentyna Ivanivna wrote poetry, made translations from Russian language, and had a great passion for cross-stitch embroidery. This love for embroidery continues to this day — at the age of 96, she still creates true little masterpieces with her own hands. Today, Valentyna Ivanivna lives in Chernivtsi with her eldest daughter. Despite her advanced age, she retains a clear mind, a curiosity about life, a gentle smile, and an inexhaustible kindness of heart. Her story is a shining example of resilience, dignity, and love for others.
We would like to share the story of a wonderful 9-year-old girl, Anastasia Ursakii — a bright, kind, and incredibly talented young artist. Anastasia isn’t just smart; she has an amazing gift for drawing. Recently, she even won 1st place in her age category at a local art competition! But Anastasia’s childhood has not been easy. From birth, she has shown remarkable strength, patience, and resilience. When she was born, doctors diagnosed her with hip joint dysplasia — a condition where the hip bone doesn’t fit properly into the joint. During her first years of life, little Anastasia had to wear special orthopedic braces called Pavlik harnesses, which held her legs in a stretched position to help her hips heal. Unfortunately, despite all the effort and treatment, her condition did not improve enough, and she eventually needed surgery. Thanks to this operation, Anastasia was finally able to walk — step by step, with courage and determination. Today, Anastasia continues to amaze everyone around her with her positivity and creativity. She can spend hours drawing, creating beautiful pictures full of imagination and light. She attends local art classes and dreams of learning modern digital art techniques, many of which are available online. Her biggest dream right now is to have a tablet and access to online art classes. This will allow her keep learning and practicing digital art — especially during air raid sirens, when schools in Ukraine are closed, and children must study from home or in shelters. Anastasia’s story is one of courage, hope, and incredible talent.
