Seventeen-year-old Oksana Silkina lives with a foster family in the village of Zorya, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Four years ago, the family of Larysa and Yuriy Yatsenko took her in, together with her older sister and two younger brothers. There are 15 children in the Yatsenko family, with the oldest daughter being 31 and the two youngest being 5. Having become a part of a new, loving family, Oksana began to study well and win at the Olympiads in nearly all school subjects. Thanks to her academic successes, the girl received a scholarship from the oblast governor in 2017 and also became the finalist of Happy Palms Festival for talented orphans. Oksana wrote about her story for the international social project “The Book of Goodness.” The jury was deeply moved by her story, and selected it to be published in the book.
“I was in school when I received an unexpected call and was told that I would be included in ‘The Book of Goodness.’ I stood there in the corridor shocked: ‘How? It’s impossible!’ But at that moment, I understood that if I was selected from first among the top 100, and then the top 50 writers out of more than 3,000 authors, I probably could write. And then I really wanted to write more.
And that’s how it all began. My Ukrainian teacher suggested that we write stories about goodness during a class. I thought about it a lot, and then I realized that the greatest goodness was what my parents had done for me. They gave me a new life. They let me into their family.
Our parents took in children because they have a big house. Their children grew up and the house became quiet and empty. So they decided to foster more children. Of course they had their misgivings and doubts, but they did it anyway.
We didn’t know each other well at first. It was as if we were strangers living together in the same house. But with time, we started to get used to each other and that grew into such a great love that cannot be broken by anything.
We adapted quickly in the family, because we’re happy there. We do everything together. We go to places together, we watch movies together, everything together.
I cannot image having any other family.
There are times I think about my biological father and mother. Of course I remember them. I’m very sorry that they lost their parental rights. But whatever happens, happens for the best.
In this family, I began to blossom like a flower. I became active, creative. I study sciences, paint, do crafts and sports. My mom involves me in everything and supports me.
Recently, I participated in the USAID Youth Leadership School. We developed ideas for the amalgamated territorial communities and played a simulation game, where I tried being a people’s deputy and a journalist.
I learned one main thing from these lessons – we’re all parts of one large mechanism. And if every person understands what she or he needs to do, what he or she is meant to do, our country will prosper. And the more such creative people we have the better.
I want to have a profession; I want to have a good job. I want to do what I really like. I’ve always had a dream about a cozy house, where everybody is happy. I would also like to have a big family and I also want to foster children, because when I see the goodness of the other people, I want to do good too.
I hope that my story will inspire other people to do good.
Many of my dreams have changed over my childhood. I once dreamed about having good, kind parents and that dream came true. It really came true. And I also once wanted to be a doctor. And now I dream of becoming a journalist.
I’d really like to travel around and listen to the people, speak with them more, hear their thoughts and then write them down in a notebook or make a story or a fairytale or a tale out of it.
I also dream about peace in our Ukraine. It’s very painful to look at the people whose loved who ones died in the east of Ukraine. They miss them so much.
I want peace in the whole world. There are many people who think that no war means peace. For me peace in the world is when all people and all countries connect with each other, communicate. It’s inspiring.
Everyone can exchange some skills and help each other. And it is very sad to see them simply quarreling with each other and not appreciating one another.”
