Author:
Yuliia Didenko
For the fourth year in a row, we are running summer and autumn camps for children who have lived through the traumatic experiences of war. Fourteen days in the Carpathians is a time when children can rest and receive psychological support. It is a time for new memories to appear in their minds—memories of a safe space, new friends, and their own inner strength.
This year, some of our camps are funded by partners, and we are deeply grateful. However, the number of requests for support has grown significantly. That’s why we are raising $93,000 for two more sessions—for 112 children from families of Ukraine’s defenders, internally displaced families, and those living in frontline or recently liberated areas.
How a Psychological Support Camp for Children Works
Every child arrives with their own story. We understand and account for this in the camp program. Our camps combine individual and group sessions with psychologists, art and movement therapy, team games, creative workshops, and talent nights. The program has everything that helps children open up: creativity, sports, psychological support, and self-development.
We design it so that every child can try different activities—from staging plays to deep conversations about themselves. This way, they discover what they truly enjoy, learn to talk about their feelings, and gradually regain faith in their own abilities.
We design it so that every child can try different activities—from staging plays to deep conversations about themselves. This way, they discover what they truly enjoy, learn to talk about their feelings, and gradually regain faith in their own abilities.
Together with specialists, we create a space where children can relax, open up, and develop stress resilience. And they are constantly surrounded by caring people ready to help.
Our camps aim to give children the inner resources to cope with the consequences of war, support their needs, and strengthen their stress resilience in challenging conditions. Every detail matters—from a carefully designed program with adaptive activities to an atmosphere of trust, peer community, and the support of professional adults. All activities are based on the Foundation’s psychological programs, developed with modern approaches and scientifically grounded methods of psychosocial support for children,
What We’ve Already Achieved—and How It Changes Children
In 2024 alone, we held 17 off-site camps for 568 children. Experience shows that most children are reserved, shy, and not very active at the beginning. You can feel their fear for their lives and anxiety for their parents.
Most of them come from frontline areas, which means online schooling and a lack of live communication with peers. During the camp, they gradually remember what it’s like to spend time without worries. Ahead of them are countless smiles, hugs, laughter, and the inevitable farewell tears when they don’t want to part with new friends.
Most of them come from frontline areas, which means online schooling and a lack of live communication with peers. During the camp, they gradually remember what it’s like to spend time without worries. Ahead of them are countless smiles, hugs, laughter, and the inevitable farewell tears when they don’t want to part with new friends.
The most valuable part here is talking with peers and the sessions with psychologists. I’m ready to pass that knowledge on to my friends,
Together with you, the Foundation will be able to give children warm memories, help them restore their inner resources, and find calm even in wartime. Join the fundraiser for the support camps.
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