‘In this shift I have found a lot of nice friends!’
Within the framework of the project ‘Peaceful Summer for Donbass Children‘ implemented by the Humanitarian Center, the second shift was finished in the children's health camp ‘Dolphin‘. Almost 140 children living in the uncontrolled territory of the Donbass and demarcation line, as well as IDP children had a great rest on the seashore in Skadovsk (Kherson region).
Every day of rest in the camp was not like the previous one – there were sports games and entertainments, there was a cinema on the open air. The children enjoyed delicious and balanced meals which they got five times a day.
‘I have not been in the camp for a long time, since 2014, when military operations began. I was surprised that there is a pool and slides here. You may even play football here! In this shift I have found a lot of nice friends and I would like very much to come here in a year,‘ Andrey from Makeyevka says.
The children not only had fun, but also underwent psychological rehabilitation. The experienced psychologists worked with them. Using play activities, master classes and art therapy, they helped children to cope with their fears and anxieties.
‘Here removal of the emotional tension and splash of the accumulated negative emotions occur. We are trying to create for children an atmosphere of rest, safe space and comfortable communication with age-mates. Our psychologists help the children to find internal resources to live and develop peacefully,‘ Ellen Smolyak, Project Psychologist, comments on.
During the project existence, almost 3000 children have already been on vacation. This year 500 more children will have a rest in the best camps of Ukraine.
‘Emotional discharge and recovery is a very important factor for children who live in constant tension and fear of military operations. The project ‘Peaceful Summer for Donbass Children‘ is aimed at enabling the children from the war zone to rest and feel safe in peaceful territory,‘ – Andrei Khvorostyanko, programs and projects manager of the Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center, noted.
