The Little Nastiya Project

This year on my birthday, I'll be in my favorite country, doing what brings me the most joy -- serving children who live in difficult environments. I feel a calling to this work because of the experiences I had growing up, because of the little girl in me, whom I call Little Nastiya. Little Nastiya, lived in an impoverished community with no one by her side. She roamed the streets barefoot, isolated, begging strangers for food and longing for basic human needs and connection. She suffered deeply because she had no safe place to go to.

When I think about her, she reminds me of the many other children who are in similar situations around the world today. Little Nastiya connects with them, feels for them and understands what they are going through. She has a deep rooted desire to take action and give to these children what she needed growing up -- a sliver of hope, love, and safety.

I will be working at a daycare center for children who live in poverty in Costa Rica. These children attend overcrowded and overwhelmed schools in low income areas. This means students (as young as 6) are often only attending school in either the morning or afternoon and are left on their own without support or care for the rest of the day.

Community centers in Costa Rica aim to fill this gap with further education, games and nutrition so that these children have a safe, stimulating, and structured learning space for the entire day. This type of environment affords these children the opportunity to build their skills and support networks by increasing their access to continued education which ultimately helps in later gaining employment. As a volunteer, I’ll assist local staff with their efforts to both care for and entertain a large number of children up to the age of 11. I will have a hands-on role providing support in setting up games and activities, helping with homework, one-on-one interaction with children, teaching basic hygiene skills, assisting with meals and so much more.

As a way to honor my own history and the voice of Little Nastiya, the best gift I can think of is donating my time and care to those less fortunate than I am. For my birthday I am calling on those who feel the same to support me in my goal on this trip.

If this need and the needs of these children resonates with you, please join me in support of this project by donating towards the cost of this volunteer program. I'm hoping with your support to raise $1,500 as well as an additional $1,500 donation to the daycare center in order to help sustain their operations in the community.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration!!

Much love,

Little Nastiya