In the Khmelnytskyi region, a seven-day patriotic camp session titled “We Are Together” was held at the “Emerald City” health resort. The event brought together about 70 teenagers from among the internally displaced persons of the Kurakhiv community, who are currently forced to live in various parts of Ukraine due to the occupation of their homeland, as well as about 20 participants from the Donetsk region.
Amid the temporary occupation of the Kurakhiv community, the camp’s primary value was the opportunity to bring together children and young people scattered across the country by the war, giving them a sense of unity, a shared home, and meaningful interaction with their fellow countrymen.
The event was organized by the Department of Education and the Department of Culture, Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Information Activities of the Kurakhiv City Council, with support from the Kurakhiv City Military Administration and the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
The camp program was intensive and focused on national and patriotic education, teamwork, and the well-rounded development of adolescents. Throughout the week, participants acquired practical skills in tactical medicine and first aid, orienteering, knot-tying techniques, and archery.
In addition to practical sessions, the children and youth participated in sports relays, photo scavenger hunts, team-building workshops, and creative master classes. As part of the educational program, the young residents of Kurakhiv went on an excursion to Kamianets-Podilskyi.
The psychological, emotional, and integrative aspects were particularly important. Morning and evening circles, “camp mail,” heartfelt conversations, friendly support, and evenings around the campfire helped the children feel like one big family again. The highlights of the final day were “Holi Fest” and the movie night “Let’s Remember the Best Moments….”
Holding such events is extremely important for maintaining young people’s connection to their community and for providing them with psychological and emotional support and helping them adapt amid the war.