Summer camps help Ukrainian children to dream again

At a time when Russia’s attacks on Ukraine are increasingly brutal, it is vital that children retain the opportunity to be children. Last summer, together with our local partner East SOS, we tested the “Easy Camp” camp model, where children received catch-up lessons for school, mental health support and participated in regular camp activities. Feedback from 150 participants confirmed the need for the approach, and we can already see it from the first group of camps that have just finished – 50 children from Zaporizhzhia.

Mondo supports Ukrainian children’s mental health

“Easy Camp is our way to tell children: “We see you. We believe in you. And we are here with you.” This year, we are especially focused on supporting those who have experienced loss, separation or uncertainty due to war. Together with the team of the SOS East Foundation, we have created an environment in which learning, mountains and friendship come together in an experience that changes the way we look at ourselves and the world. 9 days is not much. But for many it will be the beginning of a great inner journey,” shares Anastasia Holovatyuk, Mondo’s project coordinator.

During the camp it is crucial to support children’s emotional resilience. That is why teachers, psychologists and mentors work alongside children, and learning is combined with psycho-emotional practices, including art therapy, master classes on communication and teamwork. We want to not just help the child catch up on their studies, but to give them internal support.

It is crucial to catch up with learning

“In 2025, we deepened the study of English and strengthened the blocks on developing emotional resilience as a component of the educational process. This is especially important for children who live under shelling and are anxious. We believe that the most effective education is that which sees the child as a whole person,” — Mykola Overchenko, manager of educational programs at the SOS East Foundation.

“This is not just a camp. This is a place where a child begins to dream again. There, in the mountains, children who have just left under shelling or lost their loved ones feel that they are important, that they are cared for. And at the same time, they learn, they make up for the gaps that arose through no fault of their own,” says Anna Loza, coordinator of the educational direction of the SOS East Foundation.

The Easy Camp is organised within the framework of the project “Supporting mental health through online diagnostics and consultations, as well as mental health and training camps”. The project is implemented by Mondo in Ukraine in partnership with SOS East and DocuMental OÜ in Estonia and is funded by Secours Populaire Français and the Estonian Centre for International Development. #FromThePeopleOfEstonia