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The Foundation's team
Voices Camp, Lord of the Elements, and a new camp for older teenagers still in the making. Children arrive at the Foundation’s camps with very different experiences: some have escaped occupied territories, some have loved ones serving in the military, and some have experienced loss.
Viktoriia Lukashchuk, who leads the camp program, says that finding the right location is both the most difficult and the most important stage of preparation. It determines whether children will feel safe enough to fully engage in the program and, ultimately, what they will bring home with them.
In this interview, Viktoriia spoke with Kseniia Fertak, 16 years old, from Kherson, about what goes on behind the scenes of Voices of Children’s camps.
Viktoriia Lukashchuk, who leads the camp program, says that finding the right location is both the most difficult and the most important stage of preparation. It determines whether children will feel safe enough to fully engage in the program and, ultimately, what they will bring home with them.
In this interview, Viktoriia spoke with Kseniia Fertak, 16 years old, from Kherson, about what goes on behind the scenes of Voices of Children’s camps.
Voices Camp and Lord of the Elements: Who Are the Camps For?
- Who are these camps designed for, and what needs do they address?
Viktoriia: Our camps are created for children affected by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Each child has their own difficult experience: some have had to leave their homes under occupation and relocate to another part of the country; some have loved ones serving on the front line; some have experienced loss. Children are very different, with different stories and needs. Currently, we have two main programs: Voices Camp and Lord of the Elements. Both are grounded in psychological support and the continuous involvement of psychologists.
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Voices Camp is more creative in nature. It includes a wide range of artistic activities, is designed for children aged 10–15, and lasts for two weeks.
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Lord of the Elements focuses more on physical activity: hiking, mountain adventures, rafting, and ziplining. Each day is dedicated to a different element. This camp lasts one week and is designed for teenagers aged 12–17.
How we prepare a children's camp: dates, locations, safety, contractors
- What does camp preparation look like behind the scenes?
Viktoriia: Everything begins with choosing the dates. We take children’s ages, the school calendar, and exam schedules into account. For example, Lord of the Elements is best not held in June because of the National Multi-Subject Test and university admissions campaigns. The next step is finding a location. This is probably both the most difficult and the most important stage. There are hundreds of requirements: shelters, food services, safety standards, the possibility of reserving the entire site exclusively for the camp, and reliable contractors for activities. Everything that follows depends on the location.
- How long have you been working within the Foundation, and what is your position?
Viktoriia: I started on July 1 and immediately found myself in the middle of the busiest camp season. During the summer, camps often run simultaneously. In winter, we focus more on reporting, supporting other projects, and planning future seasons: searching for locations and developing new formats. For six months, I worked directly in this area as a camp manager. Now, I serve as team lead and oversee the Foundation’s entire camp program.
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What do you enjoy most about your work?
Viktoriia: What I love most is visiting the camps in person — arriving and finally seeing the children, the team, and everything you had previously been organizing remotely. Emotional involvement is very important to me.
Sometimes it feels as though you work only with spreadsheets, invoices, and numbers rather than with people. But when you see children’s genuine emotions and reactions, and have a chance to talk with them, it is priceless.
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What word or color do you associate with the camps?
Viktoriia: The first word that comes to mind is summer. Warmth, sunshine, something joyful and active. As for the color, I would choose green. Perhaps because of Lord of the Elements, which includes so much movement and sport. But green also represents life, recovery, and renewal to me. And our camps are designed to provide psychological recovery, too.
We often see a remarkable difference between the child who arrives and the child who returns home. It feels like a small personal renaissance.
Nazar Five Letters and Freedom Lovers: New Ideas and Memorable Moments
- What stands out most when you think back to the 2025 camp season?
Viktoriia: One person who immediately comes to mind is a contractor named Mykhailo. At the height of the season, he welcomed us and helped with everything free of charge. Even now, he still calls from time to time to ask how we are doing. Acts of kindness like that stay with you. Another thing that means a lot is parents’ gratitude. After every session, we receive long, heartfelt messages.
And of course, there are the children themselves. For example, there was a boy named Nazar Five Letters, who came up with a way to make sure everyone remembered his name. Whenever he introduced himself, he would ask, “How many letters are in my name?” When we asked why he did that, Nazar explained that people pause for a moment to count the letters, and once they do, they never forget his name.
- What plans and new ideas do you have for the future?
Viktoriia: Right now, we are developing an idea for a new camp called Freedom Lovers. It would be a tent-based camp for older teenagers, focused less on recreation and more on building resilience, endurance, and confidence in their own abilities. For now, it is only an idea, but perhaps one day it will become reality.
- What feeling would you like children to leave camp with?
Viktoriia: Meaningful, face-to-face communication is very important to us. Many children have been studying online for years. We even experimented with going completely without phones, and it worked. The children were so absorbed in the activities that they admitted they had not even thought about their devices all day.
We want them, even if only a little, to rest, unwind, and remember that they are children. That they are free from constant stress and the burden of adult problems.
With your support, we can give these children warm memories, help meet their needs, and provide the emotional resources they need to recover from the consequences of war.
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