Dear all,
I am very excited to share more details about the wonderful children's camp, which my charity, 'Support Kharkv Foundation' co-sponsored this summer. The camp was organised by the Ukrainian charity 'Kharkiv with You' together with 'Plast' in Kharkiv, a prominent volunteering organisation in Ukraine, and also co-sponsored by organisations Malteser Ukraine, Ukrzaliznytsa and the Department of Civil Protection of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.
In the summer 2023, the rehabilitation camp for kids where they can receive psychological support and rehabilitation was launched.. The aim of the project was psychological support and adaptation of today's children, and the creation of a safe environment for meaningful understanding, and restoration of both themselves, and their surroundings.
The program involved experienced educators and a team of psychologists, who helped the children to discover themselves, make friends, enjoy different games and activities, and relax and unwind, away from the complex conditions of today. Most educators participated in a similar purpose-oriented camp in the winter, where they were able to provide psycho-social support and achieve good results in childrens’ rehabilitation. Summer camp was also no exception.
The camp was held in the picturesque location of Zakarpattia, one of the safest areas today. The sessions hosted a series of psychological sessions that focused on diagnosing anxiety levels, coping with anxiety, restoring balance, preventing and helping panic attacks. Visiting excursions to a deer sanctuary, waterfalls, the Counts of Schoenborn Palace, and a senior trip to Polonyna, all helped to see the places that are full of "power", helping to overcome the "emptiness" of today's challenges.
Children had a varied program: workshops on making various souvenirs (bracelets, bags, amulets, horse toys, etc.), project building, history and ethnography, nature, survival and orientation (map), fishing, and much more. All 10 days of the camp led to an interesting and, for a modern youth theme: "expedition: travel in time". So each of the participants of the camp was able to meet the time traveler and help him restore the balance of space-time, together with the historical figures of the founders of the Plast and mythological creatures of the Transcarpathia. Among other entertainment were: talent night, board games, skills competitions, songs by the fire, hiking in the Carpathian mountains, a party, and even an impromptu wedding!
Certainly, 10 days are not enough for full support and rehabilitation, but it is an opportunity for today's youth to see the world again in bright positive colours, an opportunity to make friends, and feel new "strength" to move forward.
'I will answer the question "Did you achieve the goal?” from the smiles of the children, their satisfied feedback, and warm words of gratitude from their parents. It is these sincere childhood emotions, which cannot be faked, that inspire us to work even harder to make projects such as this possible. The youth are our future, the future of our Motherland, and they deserve safety, joy, comprehensive development, and happy moments, even despite the war.' writes Olena Rofe, the director of the charity 'Kharkiv with You'
I want to thank all of you who supported my cause for making this possible. By seeing these pictures, I hope that you can feel, as myself, that we are doing something meaningful and helping in a real way.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
My work is not finished. If you would like to contribute further, as there is so much to do, please consider support my foundation via the link below.
Slava Ukraini!
With love,
GéNIA
💙💛