Aging Out Program
The Aging Out Program team works with orphanage directors to identify candidates for the aging out initiative, and a personalized transition plan is designed for each graduate to help them learn to live independently. They then come alongside each young adult to provide the emotional, physical, and spiritual support they need. Those young adults learn how to live independently which starts by finding a place to live or transitioning to a vocational school or college. The goal of the Aging Out Program in Ukraine is to help as many of these young adults as possible, providing them a safe, nurturing support system that will enable them to become thriving adults filled with purpose. This often includes helping to find or create safe housing, providing guidance on the best path for education, and working through their legal rights as an orphan. The assistance goes even further, teaching the graduate how to manage a budget, shop for and prepare meals, and develop healthy relationships with others. The Aging Out Program in Ukraine also involves the local church in mentoring these children and walking alongside them to teach them how to face every day and every problem with the hope of Christ. Orphan Outreach began its work in Ukraine in 2016, thanks to its long-standing partnership with LifePoint Church in Maryland. Orphan Outreach helps provide the resources needed for orphans who have aged out to secure safe housing, receive medical and dental care, and more. Sponsorship helps with ongoing needs, and mission teams offer job skills and life skills training.
Tanya in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: JOB
Tanya loves taking photos on her phone and then editing them until the colors and details feel just right. She’s working in a bank in Dnipro supporting VIP clients, and even after nights broken up by shelling, she still shows up and keeps up with her studies. This year held both joy and grief for her, from skiing in the Carpathian Mountains and sharing stories by the campfire to mourning close friends lost in the war and the death of her cat. When the pressure builds, she reaches out to family and friends for support, and she’s also working toward new goals like improving her English, building communication skills, starting gym training, and taking a barber course as she figures out what living out her faith looks like day by day. Tanya would be grateful to have a sponsor to support her along her journey!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23262
Yana in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: OTHER
Yana unwinds by taking long walks, listening to music, and reading, and she’s put that love of books to good use as a mom. During her pregnancy, she learned about parenting through books, and now she calmly explains things to her little son as he’s started kindergarten, which has given her a little more time to breathe. Even in the hard weeks when he’s been sick, Yana leans on prayer and the steady support of her husband, case manager, and friends. She and her family try to follow Jesus in everyday life, and they’d be grateful for prayers for health and for safety with the daily shelling and drone attacks around them. Yana would be grateful to have the support of a sponsoring alongside her on her journey!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23265
Nastya in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: JOB
Nastya is usually happiest on a long walk with a podcast in her headphones, or picking up ideas for the photos and videos she wants to create next. She works as a content manager in our program, and she’s been pushing herself to film more often, improve her spoken English, and sharpen her editing skills so she can tell stories well and follow through reliably. This year has held both sweet reunions and deep grief as the war has kept loved ones apart and she’s also lost friends. She lives with her husband in a rented apartment, and finding a nearby bomb shelter has helped her feel steadier during drone and missile attacks, even though nights there often leave her worn out. She believes the good news, and joins Bible study at our office on Fridays. By sponsoring Nastya, you can help provide support to her during this challenging season.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23266
Oksana in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: JOB
Oksana lights up when she talks about badminton, especially the medals she’s brought home from championships, and she’s already aiming for more. Even when her prosthetic broke twice and made it hard to play, she kept showing up and clearly sharing what she needs so she can compete well. After moving back to Ukraine from France, she’s living in a rental apartment in a dormitory, and with family visits mostly limited to holidays, she loves celebrating special occasions with friends. She reads in her downtime and loves collecting panda items! She’s working as an athlete now while hoping to take a coaching course and find her professional path after her sports career. She trusts Jesus in daily life and is praying often due to the stress of recent setbacks and the ongoing war. Oksana would be grateful to have a sponsor come alongside her in this challenging time.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23269
Max in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: JOB
Max is the kind of young man who shows up for people. Between working a steady job and attending project meetings, he also helps care for two younger boys as a project assistant, and he still makes time for sports and sharing meals with friends when he can. This year’s best moments for him have been staying connected with loved ones and going on a program-organized trip. Even while fear and uncertainty about the future weigh on him because of the war, he takes comfort in what he knows about Jesus and in prayer. By sponsoring Max, you can make a meaningful impact on his life during this challenging time.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23272
Artyom in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: N/A
Artyom has been saving up money and putting a lot of time into his IT studies, pressing on even when the war and uncertainty make the future hard to picture. He’s the kind of young man who will tell you the truth plainly and still be respectful, and he often turns to a teacher or mentor when he needs wise advice. Faith is a steady part of his week and he attends church regularly, and has even started a small Bible study with a few guys about every two weeks. He admits following Jesus can be a struggle sometimes but he prays often for peace in Ukraine and for the army that protects them. When stress builds, Artyom reaches out and talks things through with family or friends, and he’s working toward a life where he can have an IT job and feel stable and at peace. By sponsoring Artyom, you can provide support and encouragement to him during this challenging time.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23275
Valentin in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: JOB
Valentin unwinds by playing table tennis and squeezing in sports with friends whenever he can, even after moving closer to the war line for his army service. This year he began working with computers in an office role at the headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a path he chose because he doesn’t want to take up arms and, with a lawyer’s help, was able to serve in a non-military position. He stays grounded by praying and going to church with friends and family, and when stress hits, he talks things through with his girlfriend and brings it to God, even though he admits that following Jesus can be a struggle sometimes. He asks for prayers for God’s protection during this difficult stage, for peace in Ukraine, and for a strong, Christ-centered future for him and his girlfriend as they look toward building a family in a peaceful country. By sponsoring Valentin, you can provide support and encouragement for him during this challenging time.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-23518
Oleg in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: JOB
After long night shifts at work, Oleg still makes time for table games, sports, and Bible study, and he comes to program events whenever he can. Living alone in a small apartment has helped him take on adult responsibilities one step at a time, and he’s careful to pay his bills and stay on top of his health. He’s quick to ask a teacher or his mentor for advice, and he speaks with real appreciation for the project team that walks with him. With the war and a strained relationship with his father weighing on him, Oleg often turns to prayer and church for strength as he hopes for peace in Ukraine and even small goals like finishing a few minor renovations at home. Oleg would be so grateful for your support during this difficult time!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-24272
Anya in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: TECH
Anya is happiest with her hands busy, sketching in her notebook or working in the garden where she grows fruits and vegetables and helps care for a few goats and hens. This year she’s preparing to welcome a baby, and she’s been brave and honest about what that will take as she and her boyfriend build a life together in a rented home and plan for their child’s care. Finding steady work has been hard, but she’s pressing on with the skills she gained in technical school for cooking and nutrition, and she leans on a trusted friend when she needs advice. Anya would welcome prayers for safety during wartime, health through pregnancy and delivery, and wisdom as she becomes a mother. She would be grateful to have a sponsor to support her along her journey!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-24567
Veronika in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: UNIV
Veronika lights up when she’s planning her next motorcycle ride or talking about places she hopes to visit abroad, and she loves catching up with friends over coffee and long walks. This year she made a tough, honest call to leave a job that was wearing her down, then stepped into a new one even though change felt scary and stability mattered. She’s in her third year of a bachelor’s program in economics, and while a few subjects take extra support, she keeps asking questions and reaches out to a teacher or mentor when she needs advice. With a recent move, ongoing housing concerns, and the constant pressure of living in a war zone, she can feel overwhelmed, so she’s been paying closer attention to her health and showing up more regularly at church and a Bible study as she figures out what it looks like to live out her faith. By sponsoring Veronika, you can help support her during this challenging time!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25436
Nastya in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: JOB
Nastya likes capturing everyday moments, taking photos and filming short videos for her personal blog, and she also enjoys relaxing with a coloring book when she has a quiet evening. Because she often travels from Dnipro to other cities for temporary jobs, she’s gotten better at finding her way in new places and adjusting quickly, and she’s quick to strike up conversation over coffee or on a walk. At the same time, the ups and downs of relationships can hit her hard, so steady encouragement means a lot. She talks things through with her case manager when she needs advice, and she’s working toward big practical goals like renting a small apartment in Dnipro, earning her driver’s license, buying a scooter, and starting a small business. Nastya would be grateful to have a sponsor alongside her on her journey!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25437
Vanya in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: COLL
Vanya unwinds by putting on music after a long day, and when life feels heavy he’ll talk things through with someone close. This year he stuck with his job search until he finally found work he enjoys, then saved up to buy a phone, something he was really proud of. He also made time for a trip to the Carpathians, and he loves celebrating special occasions with friends and family when he can. Vanya is focused on passing his exams so he can continue studying, and he’s been praying for peace in Ukraine as he keeps learning about Jesus and what it would look like to take real steps toward Him. By sponsoring Vanya, you can make a meaningful, lasting impact on his life!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25770
Danil in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: OTHER
Danil is the kind of young man who looks for community wherever he is, whether that’s a quick game on the computer, playing sports with friends, or a long meal around the table together. He began university in Ukraine, but after living through missile attacks in Dnipro, he made the hard decision to move to Germany and is now staying with friends while he figures out what’s next. Even from another country, he stays in touch and talks openly about how things are going, though he can feel overwhelmed by stress at times and often turns to his siblings for advice. Danil learned a lot about God while growing up, and his current environment makes it hard to stay close, so please pray for his heart and for the right people around him as he adjusts. Danil would be grateful to have a sponsor to provide support and encouragement during this challenging time!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25771
Liza in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: JOB
After a long shift at her florist job, Liza still notices the small details that make an arrangement feel special, and she loves bringing a bit of beauty into everyday life. She’s held steady work for a long time, and that kind of follow-through shows in how she handles her responsibilities, even when life in Ukraine feels exhausting during the war. When stress builds, she talks things through with friends, and she stays in touch by phone with the foster family she grew up with and her biological brother. On days she has the energy, she likes sharing a meal, playing volleyball or tennis, and she dreams of traveling abroad someday. Liza would be grateful to have a sponsor alongside her in her journey!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25772
Zhenya in Ukraine
Gender: Female
Grade: UNIV
Zhenya can lose herself for hours in a good book or a tricky puzzle, and she’ll also put on music and dance when she needs to clear her head. This year she moved into a university dorm and began her first year studying psychology, a field she chose and is very excited about! When stress and uncertainty from the war hit and she slides into apathy or saddness, she doesn’t try to carry it alone. She’ll reach out to friends, her case manager, or a psychologist, and she still makes time for shared meals and to see her sister when she can. Zhenya has many questions about Jesus and prays occasionally, often for her friends, and she’d value prayers for emotional steadiness and for God’s ongoing work in her heart as she continues therapy and strives to grow and heal.
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-25856
Roman in Ukraine
Gender: Male
Grade: COLL
Roman can often be found at the piano, working toward his dream of becoming a professional musician, and when he needs a break he’ll put on music or head out to play football. This year he’s started speaking up more at general meetings and during one-on-one time with his mentor, and the guys around him are getting to see more of who he is as he learns to trust. He’s the kind of young man who tells things straight and tends to handle stress by keeping it inside, but he is learning the value of opening up. With a little extra help in a few school subjects, he’s aiming for an academy program that will move him closer to a music career. By sponsoring Roman, you can make a meaningful, lasting impact in his life!
Sponsorship Code: UKAO-26357