Odesa Orphan Who Started From Zero and Never Stopped
Alexander Skopin was born on February 25, 2009, in Odesa, Ukraine. He once had a complete family — a father, a mother, and two brothers. Then loss came, one blow at a time.
From an Empty Apartment and Grief to College and a Dream of Rebuilding Ukraine
First his father died. Then his younger brother passed away. Grief overtook his mother, and she turned to alcohol. Alexander and his older brother — just one year apart — were left alone in an empty apartment, hungry and cold, while their mother disappeared for days at a time. Eventually she fell gravely ill and died as well. The two boys were placed in an orphanage.
It was there that they met the woman who would become their foster mother — Mama Ira. She gave them a family, a home, and a future in Odesa.
In 2018, Alexander started school — enrolled directly into third grade based on his age. But while his classmates already knew how to read and write, Alexander was learning letters and numbers for the very first time. It was Mama Ira who sat beside him, patient and steady, helping him catch up every step of the way.
In 2025, Alexander completed 9th grade and enrolled in the Mechanical and Technological College in Odesa, studying electrical engineering. His motivation is personal and patriotic: Ukraine is still at war. Explosions still shake cities. Schools, homes, and hospitals are being destroyed. Alexander wants to be the specialist who helps rebuild them — and most of all, he dreams of a Ukraine where every home has electricity.
Outside of his studies, Alexander loves playing football with friends and is passionate about cinema — always sharing the latest film news with the people around him.
He is applying to join the UAC student support program with a heartfelt promise: to follow every rule, study with dedication, and behave with integrity.
"May the Lord love and protect you," he writes. "Your help is something I truly need."
His story is one of loss, resilience, and a young man whose dream is as bright as the light he hopes to restore. UACUA is honored to share it.