Escaping poverty at summer camp

"Thank you for giving camp to me!"

Davyd is nine years old and lives in Rivne, Ukraine, with his mother, Natalia, and his three younger siblings. His father left for Poland before the large-scale war broke out and never returned.

It’s been challenging for Davyd’s mother to manage on her own with four boys aged eight and under – and tough for the boys to grow up without their father. The family live in one small part of an old house, where the children have few toys and not many places to play.

Davyd plays with his little brother in a cramped yard.

When Davyd and his eight-year-old brother Volodymyr were invited to go on Mission Without Borders’ summer camp, they were filled with excitement at all the fun that lay in store for them.

The Mission runs the summer camps every year in six countries in Eastern Europe – giving children living in poverty the chance to have a joy-filled holiday in a beautiful location.

Davyd said happily, “It’s my first time here and I like this camp very much. It’s a beautiful place with a forest and lake. We have comfortable rooms with a shower and toilet.”

This year, the camp surroundings and program were wrapped up in the theme, ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Staff and volunteers had worked hard to create a schedule filled with sports, games, Bible lessons, fun activities, discussions, play and rest. Every child is given lots of attention and is well looked after, and the atmosphere is one of love and acceptance.

Davyd said, “The leader of our group is called Arthur. Arthur is very kind. He doesn’t mind if somebody just goes up to him and hugs him. He takes care of us; he counts us to make sure we’re all there. He doesn’t let us go far by ourselves. He helps us to clean our rooms, to keep our clothes and shoes in order. He’s very kind! Every day he helps us with everything! He lets us play with him and he tells interesting stories whenever we ask him to.”

New Opportunities

Davyd has reveled in all the opportunities he’s had at summer camp that he doesn’t have at home. He’s not used to such an abundance of food and wonderful new experiences. “The food is so tasty that I always ask for extra portions,” he said. “I enjoy the games, sports, swings, and the trampolines. Of course I like the toys I can play with here. I like the T-shirt I received as a gift. And I like the other kids who are here.

“Here I learned to go on roller-skates. I enjoyed the ropeway and rope swing very much; it was my first time trying it. I really liked riding bikes together with other boys. We rode rafts on the lake. Nature is so beautiful! Also, we went fishing here. I caught three fish, but they all escaped!"

Davyd made fast friends with the other children in his group.

“What have I learned here? I learned about God: that He loves everyone: adults and children,” Davyd said. “It doesn’t matter to Him how old is a child is, and how he or she behaves. He loves you no matter what. Also, I discovered that God knows and sees ahead what will happen next. Can you imagine this? You take a step and God already knows that you would take it!”

The importance of summer camp in a country struggling with war

Maksym Penkov, who works as a summer camp coordinator for the Mission, said, “The understanding that children are the future of our country never seemed truer than when the war began. “At the same time, the main goal and motivation of all Ukrainians became protecting our country so that it could be a place where a happy childhood is possible, where children are protected as they grow.

“Children, who, for whatever reasons, are left without parental attention and care, receive the good news at summer camp that they’re not abandoned, that they are valuable and that there is someone who cares about them. This is how we fight for good.”

Help a child like Davyd go to summer camp this year – give a gift supporting summer camps today.

Davyd kits up for some zipline fun at camp.