New Beginnings
Nova Spark Foundation is starting the New Beginnings initiative to help orphans who graduate from orphanages and internats and are starting the most difficult time in their lives. Around 16-18 years old, these young people can legally leave the orphanage system to live on their own. By the age of 18, they must leave their orphanage. During this time, they transition from structured, sheltered, and supervised life to a real world where they are alone and must face the challenges of every-day life in their own.
Why are we doing this?
During the first year, the graduates commonly deal with challenges, such as finding a place to live, getting a job, budgeting their finances, getting medical care, and adjusting to the social life.
Unlike those with parents or guardians who provide them with their first independent living essentials and life advise, these young people do not have anyone to rely on. They have very small chances for building a good life and reaching their potential.
Nova Spark has partnered with nonprofits in Ukraine that have been working with orphaned children and guiding them through their first year outside the system for over 15 years. They work with these children on a daily basis to give them tools to learn and adapt in the new world and to become self-reliant and confident adults.
With your support, we can give these children a chance at a good life!
How Your Donation Makes an Impact:
$167 - allows 1 student to receive mentorship for 10 months, including social-emotional skills and career guidance
$330 - provides a stipend for 1 student enrolled in college for 10 months. It covers groceries, school supplies, and transportation.
$265 - covers a Graduation Kit for 1 student. The kit includes kitchen essentials, bedding, household cleaning supplies, towels, personal hygiene items, socks, undergarments, first aid kit, and a suitcase.
Thanks to the support of our generous donors, Nova Spark Foundation helped these 4 graduates from Lviv region to start their new lives with confidence in September.
Kateryna
Along with her siblings, Kateryna has been living in an orphanage in Lviv region since 2011. She is a recent graduate and is studying to be a chef. Kateryna loves to draw.
Ivan
Ivan loves to play sports. He is on a regional soccer team. This fall, Ivan started a welding program in a local community college.
Ruslan
While in the orphanage, Ruslan enjoyed helping around the building and with gardening. He was part of a team that installed a new playground for the children in his orphanage. He is now a student at a local community college.
Andriy
Andriy has been an orphan since 2014. He’s been interested in cars and fixing them. Last year, he ordered a mechanic toolset for himself, as a Christmas present. He is now studying to be an auto mechanic at his community college.
