Horytsvit 1

Our first camp grew out of an incredibly strong desire to support the children of Ukraine. And although nobody on our team had ever organised anything like it before, that didn’t stop us from running a truly vivid and inspiring camp for teenagers.

Near the village of Kryvopillia, 20 young people from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Kharkiv regions spent nine packed days in the silence of the mountains.

Our time together was full of hikes, games, conversations and creativity. We watched closely to understand what worries teenagers right now, what they need amid the stress of war, and what supports them and eases their worries.

It was this group that taught us how to be truly present. In their everyday lives, many of the children lacked a safe space to voice their fears, their anger or their shame. We learned to create an environment of acceptance and trust, with respect for every story.

Many confidences were shared around the flickering light of the campfire, under safely shining stars, or in the warm embrace of friends…

These stories will always remain an important part of our project.