It all started in 2020, when Professor Iryna Sidanich from the University of Educational Management and Lyudmyla Bryn, director of Children Mission, visited our school in the Zakarpattia region for a roundtable on cultivating spiritual and moral values in the New Ukrainian School education program, says Andriana Polyanchych, Deputy Director for Educational Work. At that time, we discussed introducing "Spirituality and Morality" as a subject.
After the full-scale war began, we held a practical seminar in spring 2023 on teaching subjects with a spiritual and moral focus. At this seminar, Lyudmyla Bryn presented the OpSAFE Therapeutic Camp Program as a means of providing initial psychological support to children now living through the war. I immediately saw what our students needed. Among them are children whose parents serve at the front, internally displaced persons from Eastern Ukraine, and those whose relatives were injured or killed. They needed more than just academic education – they needed safety, stability, and hope.
Our entire team came together to create a very safe, engaging, and captivating adventure for our children. From June 24 to 28, 2024, we organized a daytime therapeutic camp with a clearly structured program: 5 days long, with each day featuring 7 activity stations (Opening, Pete’s Adventure, Bible, Craft, Heart, Games, and Finale).
The visible changes we saw in children’s moods and emotions demonstrated the camp’s impact. Here are three examples.
Darynka
Exhausted from following war news, Darynka found joy at the Creativity station. She eagerly learned Psalm 91 with movements and bonded with Aurora the Whale.
Stas
Withdrawn and isolated, Stas preferred online games to peers. At camp, he joined every activity, embraced "Be strong and courageous", and connected with others.
Marichka
War news left Marichka sad and drained. Camp reignited her enthusiasm. She actively engaged at Bible and Games stations, learning verses with visible joy.