I started sponsoring Zakhar nearly 10 years ago, and I finally got to meet him in 2018. He was quite shy at first but he was also looking forward to the visit. Like most children living in government institutions in Ukraine he has a family but his father is an alcoholic and he has lived in the home, along with his two brothers for as long as he can remember, he has faced a lot of challenges in his life.
It was a particularly momentous trip for me. In 2013, I was left temporarily paralysed by a rare illness called transverse myelitis and found myself rebuilding my life and learning to walk again. I had largely recovered, but it was still the most adventurous trip I’ve made since my illness.
In a way our lives are so different but at the same time, we are connected by so much too.
I took Zakhar some small gifts and we talked together about his hopes and plans for the next stage of his life. I hope to carry on supporting him through that next stage. I guess most people don’t have the opportunity to visit, but if you are supporting the work of Mission Without Borders – thank you! It’s making some great work possible.
David, a sponsor from the United Kingdom
Return to all stories