Gifts from OTP St. Nicholas: OTP BANK Employees Purchased Items for 104 Children with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities

16/ 12/ 2025

The team of JSC OTP BANK joined the ranks of St. Nicholas’s helpers. As part of the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine charity programme, employees purchased warm winter clothing, shoes, blankets, pillows, power banks and personalized gifts for 104 children who live and study at the Udaitsi Educational and Rehabilitation Centre in Chernihiv region and the Chernihiv Social and Psychological Rehabilitation Centre for Children. The total value of the project exceeded UAH 750,000. In November, the Bank received letters with the children’s wishes — some dreams were even drawn. LEGO sets, sweets, dolls, headphones — employees bought everything the children dreamed of, and additionally purchased essential items they needed. “Unfortunately, the children had never received gifts like these before. This made the emotions even stronger — both heavy and heart-wrenching, yet inspiring. I was overwhelmed with pride that our team was able to make this happen. This is humanity in action,” said Lesia Syrota, team leader of the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine programme and Director of the Retail Sales and Branch Network Management Department at OTP BANK, after visiting the children and giving them their gifts. She also emphasized that the children in these centers are very different — some have intellectual developmental disorders, some live with disabilities, some use wheelchairs or walkers, others come from low-income families or are deprived of parental care. “But all of them need support, care, and warmth — something so important to feel on the eve of the winter holidays. They touched St. Nicholas’s robe and asked whether he would come again next year,” Lesia Syrota shared. You can learn more about the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine charity programme and support its projects at the link.

In November, the Bank received letters with the children’s wishes — some dreams were even drawn. LEGO sets, sweets, dolls, headphones — employees bought everything the children dreamed of, and additionally purchased essential items they needed.

“Unfortunately, the children had never received gifts like these before. This made the emotions even stronger — both heavy and heart-wrenching, yet inspiring. I was overwhelmed with pride that our team was able to make this happen. This is humanity in action,” said Lesia Syrota, team leader of the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine programme and Director of the Retail Sales and Branch Network Management Department at OTP BANK, after visiting the children and giving them their gifts.

She also emphasized that the children in these centers are very different — some have intellectual developmental disorders, some live with disabilities, some use wheelchairs or walkers, others come from low-income families or are deprived of parental care. “But all of them need support, care, and warmth — something so important to feel on the eve of the winter holidays. They touched St. Nicholas’s robe and asked whether he would come again next year,” Lesia Syrota shared.

You can learn more about the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine charity programme and support its projects at the link.