Kateryna lives in a family with many children, she has got three more siblings, one older sisters and two younger sisters.The house where they all live does not belong to the family. Indeed the house is very old and made from сlay. There is no gas or water. The children’s father has a disability. Kateryna’s mother has to travel 9 miles to get to work. She has been an orphan since her childhood. The three youngest children have to walk every day to the main road for 3 miles. On the main road they are trying to hitchhike (common in rural Ukraine) to get to their school. The school is located in a district center. They have to drive 7 miles to get there. Since the beginning of the war with Russia the school in the village has not opened due to the lack of a bomb shelter. Kateryna studies in the 7th grade.She is a hardworking and diligent girl. Kateryna takes an example from older sister to study very well. It is her responsibility to bring the younger sisters to school and when the lessons in school are over, bring them back home. She always helps with chores around the house. Kateryna ’s family are in a difficult situation. The average monthly income of the family is $250. This includes mother’s salary and father’s pension. Every month they have to pay $150 for the education of Kateryna ‘s older sister Victoria.
Kateryna , like all girls her age, wants to wear nicer clothes and shoes. There is a serious lack of funds because of the war .