Reclaiming Childhood: Summer Camp in Ukraine
WCK recently supported a summer camp in Zaporizhzhia where over 100 children enjoyed four days of activities, games, good food, and a much-needed break from the realities of life inside a country at war. Many of the children in attendance are from families that have relocated to the camp’s host city on the banks of the Dnieper River from active war zones. The camp was held to mark Children’s Day, an international holiday focused on recognizing the rights of children including the right to education, joy, family, and general wellbeing.
Spending time with the campers proved poignant for our team. Kyrylo, WCK’s Regional Lead in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, visited to distribute gifts from WCK. “During our time with the children in the camp, we witnessed their eyes light up with joy and wonder,” he said. “In those moments of imagination and adventure, they were momentarily freed from the harsh reality of war.”
Kyrylo gifts balloons and games to the campers.
Each day parents drop off their children in the morning and pick them up in the evening each day. While at camp kids play games, create plays, attend lessons, and enjoy a nutritious lunch provided by WCK. The campers’ favorite activities were the trampoline and ball games.
The camp is aimed at improving the children’s overall wellbeing, which is crucial given the stress they experience each day living so near the frontlines. To support the effort, WCK donated ingredients used to prepare borscht, bean soup, and other hearty meals for the campers. We also participated in activities and passed out toys and balloons which were a huge hit with campers.
Campers enjoying lunches made with WCK-provided ingredients.
Our team in Ukraine knows firsthand the importance of experiencing some normality despite the war. “War doesn’t cancel childhood,” said Olha, WCK’s Ukraine Country Lead. “All our children are, in some way, affected by the war. That’s why summer camps are such powerful places for healing, where kids and teens can reclaim their childhood. WCK is happy to support this initiative by providing food, just as we do for Ukrainians every day.”
WCK is proud to be part of this effort to provide kids in Ukraine with a summer camp experience aimed at providing four days of happiness in the lives of children who have endured so much the past two years. ”For a brief time, they were able to escape the proximity of conflict and rediscover the innocence of childhood,” said Kyrylo.
For a brief time, they were able to escape the proximity of conflict and rediscover the innocence of childhood.
Kyrylo
WCK’s Regional Lead in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Help us continue supporting children in Ukraine.
