“Love is shown through serving those you love.”

Each year, we celebrate clients who demonstrate HOPE’s values of perseverance, compassion, character, and creativity by announcing Thurman Award winners. Established in honor of HOPE’s first CEO and his wife, the Thurman Award celebrates clients who have not only experienced change in their own lives but have also extended that transformation to others in their community. We’re excited to share the story of this year’s honorable mention from Eastern Europe: Vadim Dashko.

Born into a tumultuous family in Russia, Vadim Dashko’s early days involved poverty and abuse. To escape her husband, Vadim’s mother relocated with her children to Ukraine. Facing poverty and the memories of her marriage, she turned to drinking, creating even more turbulence for Vadim and his sister. For many years after, Vadim struggled with loneliness, depression, and poverty. Still, as he became a husband and a father, he grew more and more determined to overcome his challenges and become a businessman.

Using his own capital, Vadim opened a small stand selling accessories for mobile phones in mall. After learning of HOPE Ukraine from another client, Vadim joined HOPE in 2014, hoping to expand the range of goods in his store. With loans from HOPE Ukraine, he was able to expand to two new storefronts and three employees. He dreams of continuing to grow and develop his business to include more storefronts and more employees.

As HOPE Ukraine staff developed a relationship with Vadim, they repeatedly invited him to church until he finally agreed to go. In February 2016, Vadim also attended one of HOPE Ukraine’s first family camps, and through his experiences there, he came to know Christ personally.

Vadim’s life continued to change, now that he had found new life in Christ. As he has deepened his relationship with the Lord, he has also grown in his relationships with his wife and their two daughters. “Love is shown through serving those you love,” he says. “It is very important to spend time with my wife and children.”

Eager to share his newfound faith with others, Vadim is quick to tell friends and family how God has changed his life.