Summercamps for disadvantaged children in Ukraina, 3500 Euro

Through our contact, Lucia Wissing, we were introduced to a Dutch foundation that supports poor families in Ukraina. The foundation “Dobre Destiny” gives support with a variety of projects like organising and transporting relief goods, building an orphanage and setting up a bakery with training for its personel. This foundation is active around the area of a small town, Novovolynsk.

Report

Summer 2009. 
Unforgettable memories, many new friends and lasting good impressions. These are the valuable experiences for the children from the Novovolinsk city that were allowed to attend the summer camp from 6th till 24th of July, 2009. The camp took place 80 km from away from the city, near the beautiful lake Somin. 
During this camp, more then 220 children, among them about 60 orphans and children from poor families, were given the opportunity to rest, to have fun, to play many games and to make new friends.

During this camp 45 volunteers, gave all their energy and time, to make the camp a success for these children. Through a variety of games and drama workshops, they tried to teach the children how to be a good friend and have personal relationships that actually work. They were trying to help each child to have a good time, to learn how to be a good friend and to discover their own talents and to use them. In this camp every child was given the opportunity to attend different talent groups, in sports, music and a needlework group ( were children made interesting things by themselves). Also everyday they had one big game for all the children and workers of the camp. After dinner children had special meetings, where they were singing songs, doing theatre workshops, etc.

After the camp we continue to work with these children, so we stay in close contact and maintain our relationship with them , because we believe that they are the ones that can change the future for themselves but also for future kids in their environment. We want to make a big impact to as many kids’ lives as possible. 
So dear friends, thank you very much for supporting our camp. You must know that together we not only bring to these children the moments of joy, we may have an impact on the future of Ukraine through these kids.

Gratefully, the leaders and workers of the camp “Kovcheg”

Novolynsk is a former mining town. After the iron curtain fell only 2 of the 15 mines continued to be in production. There is hardly any industry in the area. For the kids in the area there is not much to do so boredom is a big factor when you grow up here. There are many single parent families. Many parents have alcohol problems. There is a lot of pressure in the community because the high unemployment rate. Because the dismal economic situation, there is a mood of despondency and passivity among the parents which leaves the children at loose end.

The last couple of years summercamps were organised for all the children in the area but specifically for the disadvantaged children. The summercamps are organised to pull the children out of their financial and social isolation.
Because many children come from families of broken homes with often money,alcohol or drug problems the children are given a chance to escape this environnement and find new possibilites within themselves 
These camps have been held over the past couple of years and every time they were a huge success. The amount of kids that apply has risen dramatically. The volunteers, the ccampcounselors have acquired a lot of experience over the past few years. For many kids it is a once a year opportunity to escape the pressures from home, to play, do sports sing and dance, in short a chance to be a kid again, a true moment of joy!!

Over the past few years we noticed a dramatic improvement in health with the kids at athe camp because of the quality of the food served at camp. But the best part is that the kids tell about the situation at home with the camp counselors who can try to offer help to families at the end of summer with professional help from rehabilitation centres f.i.

The summercamps
The summercamps are organised in the month of july, during a period of four weeks with different groups of children. In a wooded area about 3 hours outside Novovolynsk they rent a few buildings with a kitchen, some barns to sleep in and a building for activities during the day, somewhat like a youth hostel but without warm water of heating. The local church has bought some land next to a beautiful lake in the area and wants to build a camphouse but there is no funding to realize that plan yet. Eventually they hope to raise enough money to set up a childrens camp there and the buildings can be use as a shelter during the wintermonths.
Unfortunately for now, renting is the only option until the funds have been collected to build this complex.

Funds needed this year to realize the summercamps 
Money is needed to purchase the materials for sports, games, arts and crafts and also for First aid supplies and medical supplies. In addition money is needed for food supplies and the rent. 
Total amount comes to 3500 euro

Total € 3500,-- 

adopted by the general fund of Moments of Joy

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