In the tranquil settings of the Polish countryside, 177 Ukrainian child refugees found a brief sanctuary and a break from the war. Organized by the Lutheran World Federation, these holiday camps not only offered fun-filled activities but also a sense of normalcy against a backdrop of conflict and displacement.
Teenagers around a campfire in the Wisla mountains. Older children in particular benefitted from the opportunity to spend time away from home and with peers . Photo: LWF Poland
“A much-needed break from the war”
(LWI) - Hiking, climbing, roasting sausages at the fire and making new friends – holiday camps are usually a source of good memories and an opportunity to relax and make new friends. Even more so, when everyday life is marked by finding your way in a foreign country, sharing a small living space with your family and knowing loved ones in a war zone. For this reason, the LWF in Poland made sure that Ukrainian refugee children got to enjoy some holidays.
Ukrainian disco and games
The holiday camps offered 177 Ukrainian children a chance to visit the countryside. They were organized by the LWF community centers in Bielsko-Biala, Gdansk, Bytom, Ostroda, Zgierz, and Wroclaw. The children, have been living as refugees in Poland for a year and a half now.
Games and physical activity were an important part of the program. Photo: LWF Poland
“The children from Gdansk and Ostroda participated in a camp located in Sierakowice, in the Kashubia region, near a lake. The children from Wroclaw and Zgierz attended a camp in Wisla, located in the mountains”, says Bartosz Pachuta, LWF Poland monitoring officer. “From what we heard; they all were a big success.”
Both camps were run by an external organizer and financed by LWF. The children from Bytom and Bielsko-Biala attended a camp which was organized by LWF staff using parish buildings in Wisla. LWF also organized for children from the Gdansk community center to be included in a scout's summer camp, which was financed by the municipality.
We still remember our evenings around the campfire and the night games of Mafia. It was awesome!
Roman, teenage camp participant
“We still remember our evenings around the campfire and the evening games of Mafia. It was awesome! Through team games, we learned a lot about our friends and, well, about ourselves too. Many thanks for the wonderful disco with Ukrainian music and the opportunity to make camp shirts as mementos,” said Roman, a teenager who fled the war in Ukraine. Masha, from the same group added: “During these camp days, we forgot about all our problems; we could rest mentally – because there was a lot happening physically – a big thank you for these unforgettable days.”
Team experience for teenagers
The camps were especially important for teenagers, who more than children struggle with their situation as refugees. It gave them time with peers and away from their families and, playing sports and engaging in activities to build self-confidence. Many Ukrainian refugee children are still not in school, but rather following online lessons in Ukrainian. Similarly, the mothers and grandmothers who are the sole caregivers in many refugee households, enjoyed some time for themselves, knowing their children were taken care of.
Hiking in the Wisla mountains. Photo: LWF Poland
“Many children have integrated very well into Polish society. They like their schools and are starting to make new friends”, says Paolo Ferraris, LWF Country Representative in Poland. “But they feel the stress of the war through their parents and often live in small spaces, with the entire family. For the homeschooled children, this was a welcome opportunity to get out and meet new friends.”
LWF is planning to organize holiday camps again in 2024, Ferraris adds. “For the children, this is a much-needed break from the war.”
LWF in Poland supports Ukrainian refugees through six community centers in Gdansk, Wroclaw, Bytom, Bielsko-Biala, Ostroda and Zgierz, together with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, an LWF member church.
The summer camps were financed through the ACT Appeal, the municipality of Gdansk and the contributions of LWF member churches.
