July 2009
Summer camp in Horodenka area
Children’s recreational center “The Pearl of the Dniester Area”, located in Mykhalche village, Horedenka district, hosted a national Youth Summer Camp, initiated by Peace Corps volunteers.
The goal of the camp was to offer training in efficient self-organization of the young people, building partnerships between the youth from different part of Ukraine, familiarizing the participants with the region’s cultural heritage.
33 summer camp participants and 12 Peace Corps volunteers arrived to Horodenka on 28 June, 2008. They represented Kyiv, the Crimea, Luhansk, Zakarpattya, Donetsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk Regions. The ultimate goal was to bring the young people together to discuss such issues as leadership, healthy lifestyle, racism, stereotypes, women’s rights and other topics that are essential for the young Ukrainian people to understand. The camp activities were held exclusively in English to let the participants practice the language.
The camp was made up of two one-week parts: the first one was for boys, entitled “Studying Our Dominance”, and the second one for the girls, called “The Girls Rule This World”.
The camp is held every year in various Western Ukrainian communities. It could not be arranged but for the help from Ukrainian NGOs.
The Association for Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk (Mariya Kovaliv) and Horodenka District Council (Lesia Gudzyk) helped to arrange the camp in Mykhalche, on the Dniester bank. They took care of the technical supplies and resources, including accommodation, excursions, and transport. Other sponsors included: Serhiy Didych, chairman of an NGOs “Traveller’s Club “Golden Fleece”, who organized an excursion on the Hoverla mountain; “Solidarnist” – an organization on HIV/AIDS prevention – sent professional trainers for holding the workshops. For the first time this summer camp became a partner with the FSA-FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) - a student exchange program with the USA. The participants had a chance to get acquainted with the art and clothes, traditions and customs of the area.
The funding came from the families and friends of the American Peace Corps volunteers. Thanks to this funding and to the support from the NGOs the camp was a big success.
The camp was an excellent opportunity for a cultural exchange between the Ukrainian participants and the American volunteers. The second week (the girls’ week) coincided with the American Independence Day (the 4th of July) and Ivana Kupala, a traditional Ukrainian summer feast that celebrates the summer solstice. The girls from different parts of Ukraine celebrated together and shared their traditions. They made an American banner for the Independence Day and sang American songs; and the volunteers told them about the way this day is celebrated in the USA. Ivana Kupala feast was celebrated in a truly Ukrainian way – with a bonfire and flower wreathes, which are then laid on water to float down the river. These are only a few of the camp activities. Apart from the workshops the participants helped to clean the area, played football, and arranged a concert.
After arriving home the participants wrote a thank-you letter to everyone who helped to arrange the summer camp in Horodenka area.
The summer camp was covered in local newspapers: "Halychyna" (July 8, 2008) and "Kray" (July 11, 2008).
