MEET IRA
Ira’s Journey from Despair to Purpose
For thousands of children across Ukraine and Israel, war has become an inescapable reality. Their childhoods have been shaped by conflict, their homes shattered, and their futures uncertain. Yet, in the face of devastation, there is hope. At TiKVA Children’s Home, we believe in the power of rescue, rebuilding, and restoring lives.
Ira’s story is one of resilience, survival, and the life-changing impact of hope.
A Childhood Defined by Neglect and Poverty
Ira was born in Odessa, Ukraine, into a world of hardship. She and her sister, Katya, grew up in conditions no child should ever experience. Their home was dark, wet, and infested with vermin. They lived in extreme poverty, sharing a tiny, uninhabitable space with their alcoholic aunt after their mother passed away. Their father had abandoned them from birth, offering neither love nor support.
With no access to proper food, education, or care, Ira and Katya never set foot in a school or kindergarten. Their future seemed predetermined—a cycle of neglect, poverty, and despair. But then, TiKVA stepped in.
TiKVA: A New Beginning
In 2003, everything changed. TiKVA rescued Ira and Katya, bringing them into a safe, nurturing environment filled with love, education, and opportunity. For the first time, they experienced the warmth of a home, the joy of learning, and the security of knowing they were cared for.
Ira thrived. She excelled in her studies at TiKVA’s school in Odessa, later graduating from the Pedagogical University. Along the way, she met her husband—another TiKVA student. Together, they built a family and a future, determined to give back to the community that had saved them.
Ira became a Hebrew teacher for TiKVA’s younger students, passing on the very gift of education that transformed her own life.
War Changes Everything
On February 24, 2022, war erupted in Ukraine, and life as they knew it was shattered once again. The same streets where Ira had rebuilt her life became battlegrounds. Together with TiKVA, her family fled to Western Ukraine and then to Romania, seeking safety from the horrors of war.
Like so many others, Ira faced an impossible choice: stay in a war-torn land or start over—again. In August 2022, she and her family made the difficult decision to move to Israel, seeking stability and peace in a country now facing its own conflict.
Rebuilding in Israel: A Full Circle Moment
Despite the trauma of displacement, Ira’s journey had come full circle. She validated her diploma and continued her teaching career in Israel, working at a school for new immigrants—many of whom, like her, had fled war and hardship.
She remains deeply connected to TiKVA, knowing that without its intervention, she might never have escaped the cycle of poverty and neglect. Today, she is not just a survivor; she is a beacon of hope, proving that even in the darkest of times, a future is possible.
Your Role in This Mission
Ira’s story is one of many. Right now, TiKVA is on the ground in both Ukraine and Israel, rescuing children and families, providing food, shelter, education, and most importantly—hope.
But we cannot do this alone.
With your support, we can:
✅ Rescue more children from war zones and poverty
✅ Provide food, housing, and education to those in need
✅ Rebuild shattered lives and restore hope for the future
Your generosity ensures that children like Ira not only survive but thrive. Join us in this mission. Together, we can be the hope these children desperately need.
