Help Sofia stay connected

Imagine your world – filled with friends, achievements, and opportunities for growth – collapsing in an instant. Ukrainians know what it feels like to lose part of that world because of forced displacement. Thirteen-year-old Sofiia risks losing even more: without funds for hearing aids, she could lose her connection to the world.

Sofiia is originally from Pokrovka in the Synelnykove district. She now lives in Dnipro with her mother, stepfather, and six-year-old brother Myron. The family has internally displaced person (IDP) status: they were forced to leave their home due to shelling. The walls of their house remained standing, but the blast wave shattered the windows. Now they rent an apartment in Dnipro and are trying to rebuild their lives.

Sofiia’s hearing problems were noticed from birth. At the age of two, her family realized she did not always respond to her name. She was diagnosed with chronic bilateral cochleitis and severe sensorineural hearing loss.

Hearing aids opened a world of sound for Sofiia. Her first devices were purchased by her parents. Later, with the help of donors, she received more advanced hearing aids. Thanks to them, she has been able to attend a mainstream school.

Sofiia is now in the 7th grade. Her current hearing aids are worn out, and last year her hearing decreased by another 20% due to puberty.

Sofiia is creative, kind, and sociable, with many friends. She loves drawing, studies English, and dances – winning prizes together with her team. New hearing aids mean not being left in complete silence. They mean keeping her hobbies, her friendships, and her future opportunities.

The family is supported by Sofiia’s grandparents, who are also displaced. Her mother, Olha, works as a sales assistant.

We are aware of the state hearing aid program, and the mother and daughter visited the hospital to enquire about the possibility of being placed on the waiting list to receive hearing aids. However, the doctor noted that the model offered is not suitable for Sofiia due to insufficient power – which this particular child requires – and moreover, the girl needs two hearing aids at once. The option of receiving hearing aids in Kyiv is also not currently viable. They cannot travel regularly from Dnipro to Kyiv for device calibration due to the distance and the security situation.

We are launching a fundraiser to buy Sofia modern Oticon Intent 3 minirite hearing aids for both ears, custom ear moulds and a charger. Let's help Sonya not lose the opportunity to communicate, learn and plan her future!