As the war continues in Ukraine, a summer camp has been established to support children who have lost family members, offering them a space to share their experiences, engage in therapy, and find solace in community. With the landscape of their lives forever altered, these young participants process their grief and trauma, foster connections, and enjoy moments of normalcy amidst chaos.
Summer Camp Provides Refuge for Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing War Trauma
Summer Camp Provides Refuge for Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing War Trauma
A pioneering summer camp in the Carpathian mountains offers emotional support and comfort to Ukrainian children grappling with the loss of loved ones during the war.
In the serene surroundings of Ukraine's Carpathian mountains, a group of fifty children gather around a campfire, sharing stories and memories of their absent fathers, brothers, and uncles. The backdrop of lush green trees contrasts sharply with the emotional baggage these young souls carry, remnants of a war that began with Russia's invasion. Among them is Dima, a fifteen-year-old boy who recalls the last moments he spent with his father — just before his dad left to fight, promising to do everything he could to ensure Dima lived a “normal life.” Days later, Dima's father vanished, confirmed as missing in action.
This summer camp, organized by the charity Gen.Ukrainian, is a groundbreaking initiative designed to aid children whose family members have gone missing during the war, many presumed dead or trapped in occupied territories. The charitable organization oversees several summer camps across Ukraine, but this particular session focuses solely on those with a relative unaccounted for, an experience shared by a staggering number of families — over 70,000 individuals are currently classified as missing by the Ukrainian government.
At the campfire, children like Dima recount their experiences with palpable emotion. One young girl remembers the fear during the initial bombings, how it gripped her hands and sent her into tears. Such group activities, grounded in communal support, serve as therapeutic outlets where children can express their feelings collectively. Psychologist Vanui Martirosyan explains that these children often endure compounded trauma, forcing them to navigate a world where grief remains unresolved due to the uncertainties of their loved ones' fates.
Dima shares the anguish of the day he learned his father was missing. After receiving a call that his dad hadn’t been located since a military airstrike, he remained hopeful, imagining that perhaps his father was a prisoner. Internal family struggles intensified as his mother sought information, facing contradictory reports about her husband’s fate; the impact on both was devastating.
Aside from emotional support, the camp provides crucial opportunities for recreation. With air-raid sirens absent in this region, the children find comfort in activities like hiking and swimming, designed to release stress and promote healing. Camp psychologists encourage them to engage in art, creating works that express longing and joy amid sorrow, such as paintings depicting reunited families.
As the camp approaches its conclusion, the relationships fostered here become especially poignant. Children like Ilya express an emotional reluctance to leave, dawning realization that in this space, they were not alone — a vital aspect of their healing process. Founder Oksana Lebedieva highlights the long-lasting ramifications of trauma on millions of Ukrainian youths, calling it “a humanitarian catastrophe,” but remains hopeful that initiatives like the camp can spark a path towards recovery for the next generation amid ongoing turmoil.
