Spiritual and rehabilitation summer camp for children “Free Children”

Mudra Sprava Patriarchal Foundation in response to overcoming the consequences of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in particular, rehabilitation and recreation of children from the frontline and constantly shelled regions.

June — September 2023.

1. Organizing groups of children for the camp, obtaining accompanying permits, etc.

An important decision was made — a list of categories of children whom we invited to spiritual renewal. We decided to take children not from internally displaced families who are already in relatively safe regions and for whom partner foundations are already organizing workshops, one-day trips or camps. Instead, to take out those children who still live on the contact line, under constant shelling, in damaged houses, who have been limited in education and communication for a long time due to the occupation, etc. These groups were assembled with the help of local administrations and social services. They also took into account the financial situation of families, large families, children who have lost their parents or are under guardianship or in other difficult life circumstances. The regions from which we brought participants were Kherson region (including villages that suffered from flooding after the Kakhovka dam was exploded and the rest of the de-occupied territories), Donetsk region (Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Sloviansk), Dnipropetrovska region (including Nikopol during the threat of a terrorist attack on the power plant and the complete absence of water in the city), Kharkiv region, etc.

2. Ensuring transportation logistics and escorting children to the camp site.

During the camp, we used 2 buses: a 47-seat bus for convenient transfers of the whole group, and a 21-seat bus, which was convenient for traveling and excursions in two groups in the field.

3. Accommodation of children in the camps and organization of their everyday life.

4. Provision of 4 meals a day and everything necessary for an independent stay during the camp.

To accommodate the groups, we looked for picturesque places in safe regions of the western regions of Ukraine. They were the retreat centers at the monasteries in the Marian Spiritual Center in Zarvanytsia, Ternopil region, in the retreat house of the Redemptorist monks in Yaremche, and at the Basilian monastery in the village of Bryukhovychi, Lviv region. The chosen places already encourage spiritual renewal and enrichment with energy. We also took care to provide the children with everything they needed on the road and prepared travel kits that consisted of a bottle of water (it was replenished daily in coolers or a natural spring), a raincoat, wet wipes, handkerchiefs, toothpaste and a toothbrush, shampoo, sweets, instant noodles, and cookies.

5. Conducting a set of activities for full-fledged spiritual communication, participation in psychological and restorative trainings, entertainment and thematic evenings, etc.

Thanks to the program developed by our animators, clergymen (Fr. Vasyl Kinakh, Fr. Augustine Tymchak) and professional child psychologists (Iryna Bedryk, Ulyana Balytska), children opened up, communicated, united, and discovered their talents in friendly competitions and contests. At each camp, we welcomed children who had lost their fathers, mothers, both parents, brothers, and sisters. Some of them witnessed violence and have loved ones in captivity. Unfortunately, we have identified cases of PTSD that require in-depth work by a psychotherapist.

Every day, our 4 teams (10 people each) received points for their achievements, victories in competitions, activity in events, and no one was left without gifts.

6. Organization of leisure and acquaintance with the picturesque nature of our region, visiting excursions, colorful museums, climbing mountains, etc.

Children and youth from areas near the front line who are constantly in danger and hiding from shelling.

Mudra Sprava Patriarchal Foundation, Patriarchal Pilgrimage Center of the UGCC, local government authorities.

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And ProEurope.