The A-Help Ukraine summer camp completed its third term. There were 12 children in each term.
Children 7-8 years old attended the first term, children 9–10 years old the second, and children 11–12 years old attended the third term. The fourth term started on August 14, and it is for teenagers aged 13–15.
“The age-related features of development explain the division of children into groups because each age period has its own distinctions in information processing and reflection. Every day in the camp begins with a social circle. Here, children share their mood and feelings and tell what positive or negative things happened to them,” explains psychologist, art therapist, and correctional instructor Iryna Vodomerova.
Each camper keeps a personal diary. Children work with them every day. This is a beautiful notebook, which is divided into two sections: the first part is a working section for the summary of the theoretical information, in which children record their feelings and observations and perform tasks and exercises.
“We work on the following issues: fears, traumatic memories, sorrow, sadness, grief, resentment, anger, anger transformation techniques, conflicts and ways to resolve them, as well as empathy. During the day, children learn practical techniques for overcoming stress, which significantly improve their emotional and psychological well-being. They learn to be aware of, accept, and express their emotions. Kids move around and play moving and social-communicative games,” says the psychologist.
The second section of the diary is designated for writing wishes to themselves and their friends, drawing, and sharing secrets here. It is colorful and decorated with amusing decorative materials for scrapbooking and stickers.
Every day, a picnic is set up for children in the gazebo outside. Sweets, drinks, and cookies taste better when shared with friends! After a snack, the program includes creative workshops.
“We use paper, paints, plaster, and decorative ornaments in our work. This allows children to demonstrate their creative abilities,” explains Iryna Pushai, a creativity instructor and project manager.
According to her, at the end of the second term, a boy came running because he really wanted to enroll in the camp.
“My friend Vadim is currently in the camp, and he told me that it is very cool here! I’d like to take part in it as well; only I’m older than him; I’m 12!” he said. We responded that parents could register for the camp if they filled an application form and brought copies of their paperwork. It turned out that his mother worked extended hours, and his grandfather could not bring the documents because he went to the hospital to visit his grandmother every day. The boy said that his grandfather could try and provide all the needed documents. So we sent his grandfather the application form and encouraged the boy to come with the application and documentation. “The boy managed to enroll to take part in the third shift and participated actively in the work,” Iryna added.
At Charitable Fund A-Help, they consider this the highest evaluation of their work: the children like it because it is great for them to spend time in the camp.
The A-Help Camp is a joint project of the charity funds A-Help Ukraine and Global 2000 for Children of Ukraine. Activities take place on the territory of the children’s development center. The camp is open from 2 to 6 pm. Each term is two weeks long. A psychologist and an assistant work with a group of children for an hour and a half each day.
Photo: Charitable Fund A-Help Ukraine