UCARE has been participating in summer camps for orphans in Ukraine since 1995. Many of our members have sacrificed their summer vacation time to work as counselors, teachers, doctors and nurses at camps throughout Ukraine.
The first camp was in 1995, and had only thirty children participating. Later camps had between 350 and 450 children (most aged 12-18) enjoying the scenery and fresh air of the Carpathian mountains in the village of Vorokhta. The camps were cosponsored by Priyateli Ditey (Friends of Children) of Ukraine and Help Us Help the Children of Canada. UCARE helped both with funding and personnel.
In 2006 UCARE ran its first solo camp in Crimea, near Yalta and the Black Sea shore. It was a much smaller camp - two sessions of twenty teens each − because the facility was much smaller. It became and art and culture camp. You can read more about it and see some photos here.
UCARE has also worked with Priyateli Ditey of Ukraine to help with their summer camps, including short camps on a cruise ship.
Since 2008 we have helped Priyateli Ditey run their summer camps every summer at various facilities in Ukraine's Carpathian mountains.
Summer Camp 2009
In August of 2009, UCARE co-sponsored a summer camp for Ukrainian orphans s held in the village of Kolochava, Zakarpattia oblast. Children from seven orphanages attended, spending three glorious weeks in the fresh air of the Carpathian mountains. Also attending were UCARE volunteers Nadia and Askold Haywas from California, and Luba Petrusha from Detroit.
The all-volunteer staff included many of our stipendiaty, who acted both as camp counselors for the children, and taught maysterni (master classes) in various arts and skills.
The video was created by our Ukrainian volunteer, Dima Samarskyi.
