Her Story Dances To The Music of Hope

How Alyona went from being an "at-risk child" from a large family to receive a university scholarship and be selected to tour the U.S.

A journey from despair to hope, from dreams to accomplishment... this is the journey of sponsorship. It is the young and hopeful story of 19 year old Alyona Dovgaya from Kiev, Ukraine.

Alyona is enthusiastic, a hard worker, and has a strong Christian commitment. She attends university in Kiev, Ukraine and is majoring in choreography and classical dance. She also enjoys history and sings in the choir at New Life Church in Kiev.

Alyona is one of five children. She lives with her family in a small three room apartment. Her father receives a small State pension and her mother is a teacher.

Seven years ago Alyona's future looked bleak. Her father was out of work with five children to feed. Her mother faithfully brought the children to church, but the father Yury resisted. At that time Alyona's family was chosen by EEO to join the child sponsorship program. Soon thereafter sponsors Charles and Anita McDowell began sponsoring and praying for Alyona and her family.

This past November she was chosen to join the prestigious Virsky Dance Company of Ukraine and tour the United States. When the McDowells heard that she would be performing in their area, they immediately determined to see her perform.

"My husband Chuck, and I had the great pleasure and blessing of meeting Alyona Dovgaya, and watching her perform with the Virsky Ukrainian Dance Company at Rhode Island College." Anita shared.

"We had never met before of course, but we had her picture, and I brought my sponsorship receipt with her name and our name on it. We asked a hostess from Rhode Island College who went backstage and brought it to Alyona, who then came out to meet us! She was the tallest female dancer in their company of about 75 dancers on the U.S. tour."

"We met briefly afterwards and then again the next morning at her hotel. In that short time we all felt as though we got to really know each other so very well.  God is so good!

We also had (miraculously) front row seats -- they were purchased on-line and somehow that is what we were given! "

"Alyona's friend, Helen, also in the company, translated for us, as Alyona speaks no English at all. She showed us many pictures of her family and life in Ukraine and we really felt like we did learn a great deal about each other in a very short time."

"We want to thank you for informing us that she was in the United States! We loved the performance, so colorful and lively, and Aloyna just glowed. We wish we could have been able to see it again!"