Our Stars: Kids’ Stories
When young dreams meet opportunities, success stories are born. Get inspired!
Vladyslav (8th Grade) &
Artem (9th Grade)
From first lines of code to national champions!
Vladyslav and Artem joined our coding programs and quickly showed what real determination looks like. Vladyslav won 1st place at our Summer Tech Camp and earned his Oracle certification by December 2023. Artem, equally unstoppable, got his Oracle certification in January 2024.
Together, they proudly represented Star for Life Ukraine at the National Programming Tournaments 2024&2025, leaving their mark among Ukraine’s brightest young programmers.
Vladyslav says: "At first, coding was like magic. Now, it’s like my superpower!"
Artem says: "One day, I won’t just fix bugs – I’ll run my own tech company."
Liza (7th Grade) & Olena (9th Grade)
Small-town sisters, big dreams!
When war drove Liza from her hometown of Nikopol (Dnipro region) to Lviv, she joined our Summer School, earned a laptop and scholarship from Star for Life Ukraine, and then in 2023 became a finalist at the
Girls in Tech competition and aced our Winter Java course – one step closer to her tech career. Inspired, Olena jumped in too and is now mastering UI/UX Design, Front-End Dev and Python in Action courses.
Today, both serve as ambassadors for Star for Life Ukraine, and we couldn’t be prouder of these two sisters and all they’ve achieved!
Liza says: "I used to think coding was just for grown-ups. Now I’m learning it, and I’m going to create a game even cooler than Minecraft!"
Olena says: "As a Star for Life Ukraine ambassador, I get to rep my small-town roots, share the coding hype, and show everyone girls rule in tech!"
Arsen (6th Grade)
From a village erased by war to dreams written in code!
Arsen’s story shows what strength and focus really look like. He was born and raised in the village of Krasnopillia in the Sumy region – a place that was completely destroyed during the war. In 2022, his family moved to Poltava region to start over. Through all the changes and challenges, Arsen stayed locked in on his love for coding.
At just 12 years old, he’s already passed seven Java prep exams, scoring between 80-90%, way above 65% required. His drive and talent stand out, not just for his age, but for anyone. Arsen is proving that where you’re from doesn’t define where you’re going. Now, he’s fully prepared to take the official Oracle certification exam – just waiting until he turns 13 to be eligible.
Arsen says: "When the world gets messy, coding’s where I take back control. I’m building something that will actually change things."
Valeria (11th Grade)
Designing with heart, not just pixels!
Valeria from Kharkiv always dreamed of trying web design – and when she joined the UX/UI course by Star for Life Ukraine, she brought her vision to life. Her final project? A landing page showcasing the Carpathian Mountains as a source of beauty and inspiration – and it won her first place! Valeria also received a laptop through our Computer for Kid project. Thanks to her creativity and drive, she later earned headphones and a scholarship for the course. Now, she’s even helping out as a teaching assistant and dreaming big of becoming a top UX/UI designer.
Valeria says: "I didn’t just want to make a design, I wanted to create something that stands out. And I think I nailed it.”
Andriy (8th Grade)
From a small village to national coding champ!
Andriy, from the village of Polovli in Rivne region, always had a passion for coding. He started at just 8 years old, creating games with Construct 2. By 10, he was learning programming on his own through YouTube and books.
In 2024, Andriy joined Star for Life Ukraine and took his skills to the next level, competing in a national Android programming competition. He impressed the judges with his innovative drone code and took home the top prize: a laptop. Andriy’s just getting started, his dream is to become a pro in tech, and with the support of Star for Life Ukraine, he’s already on his way!
Andriy says: "I wasn’t sure I could win, but I wanted to see what I could do. Now, I’ve got my own laptop and way more motivation to keep going."
Yulia (10th Grade)
From student to web design rockstar!
Yulia, a talented graduate of Star for Life Ukraine’s UI/UX design course (offered as part of the Girls in Tech project, always had a knack for creativity. She started experimenting with design at a young age, and her passion grew as she learned more about the art of user experience.
When the opportunity came to contribute to redesigning the Star for Life Ukraine website, Yulia jumped at the chance. Her fresh, innovative approach captured the essence of the organization while adding elements that truly made the design stand out. Yulia's concept won the competition, and she’s already proving her talents are just the beginning.
Yulia says: "I wanted to create something that would leave a lasting impression. Winning this contest shows me that I'm on the right track!"
