New Year Wishes in Ukraine
The end of the year is often a time of reflecting, dreaming, and celebrating.
It’s a time when we ask children, “What do you wish for?” We celebrate the year that has come to an end, and we look forward to the promise of the year ahead.
This year, we sat down with teens in our Pathway to Success program in Ukraine and asked them about their hopes, dreams, and wishes for the future.
Here is what they had to say.
Alyona is an 18-year-old who spent much of her life in an orphanage before moving in with a foster family. On a recent trip with the Pathway to Success program, she was able to explore the Kava Pro Company and learn about the exciting world of coffee production.
“My dream for the future is to become a barista and open my own coffee shop,” said Alyona.
Eighteen-year-old Nastya lived in an institution until she aged out of care. After being displaced by the war, she now lives with a friend and meets with her Pathway to Success mentor. Despite the tremendous challenges she has faced, Nastya is studying hard to earn a college degree in social work.
“My dream is to become a child psychologist and to work with children who desperately need help and to help them,” said Nastya.
Sergei is a 16-year-old who knows what it’s like to have to fight for things. He has spent much of his life on his own, but through the Pathway to Success program, he has become more open to people and accepting help from others. Sergei is extremely active, and he finds comfort and strength in sports.
When asked about his dreams for the future, he said, “My biggest dream is to become a world champion boxer.”
For a few of the teens in the program, their hopes and dreams were not for themselves, but for their countrymen.
Fifteen-year-old Dmitri didn’t hesitate to respond and say, “I dream every day about the end of the war in my country, so all of the children can return to their homes.”
Nineteen-year-old Anna said, “My biggest dream is for this war to end. I dream of a peaceful sky, for children and innocent people not to suffer, and for the brave men who protect us and grant us peace and comfort are safe and do not die.”
Volodymyr is 20 years old, and normally he loves the Christmas holidays, but things are different this year.
“My dream is the dream of every Ukrainian: for this war to end as soon as possible. I also wish that all of our plans will come true in the coming year and that everything will be ok for us.”
For us, our Christmas wishes are not for our city to be spared. Our New Year’s plans are not contingent on whether or not our home or school or workplace is destroyed by an air strike.
At Kidsave, we are working to secure the future for children in Ukraine, so they don’t have to face these uncertainties. When you contribute to Kidsave Ukraine, you help us create a better tomorrow for the children of Ukraine. Visit www.kidsave.org/standwithukraine/ to give today.
