Educational Catch-Up Camp “Easy Camp”
The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the outbreak of full-scale war, has had a profound impact on the educational process. The shift to online learning, limited opportunities for socialization due to isolation from peers, and the constant stress, fear, and uncertainty about the future have all negatively affected children’s mental and physical health.
In times of war, the primary focus when working with schoolchildren is to ensure their safety and emotional well-being. At the same time, addressing educational gaps remains critical, as frequent shelling, power outages, and air raids disrupt the stable acquisition of knowledge, making it difficult for children to keep up with their education.
Easy Camp aims to improve the situation by providing students from remote schools in frontline regions with the opportunity to briefly experience the atmosphere of school life again. In the camp, children can be with their peers, immerse themselves in the joyful and relaxed atmosphere of childhood, and regain a sense of unity and support.
A team of teachers, mentors, and psychologists works together to help camp participants make up for educational losses, regain their strength, and build a strong sense of community.
The three camp sessions are held in one of the cozy corners of Zakarpattia, where children can experience a sense of safety, away from the frontline. The theme of the camp is world travel.
Each day is divided into two parts:
The first half is dedicated to educational sessions in core school subjects—math, history, Ukrainian language, and literature—under the guidance of qualified teachers.
The second half is filled with team-building activities, workshops, sports competitions, excursions, and other fun events. Daily reflections foster a trusting and supportive environment, ensuring that children feel safe and valued.
Each of the nine days at the camp is packed with memorable moments hat will stay with the participants long after the experience.
MTÜ Mondo
July – August 2024
150 seventh-graders from the Zaporizhzhia region who need to catch up on their educational losses and study remotely
Due to the war, some children are deprived of the opportunity to study full-time. Unfortunately, this issue is not easy to resolve, and in some areas, it is simply impossible. As a result, the format of educational camps offers a partial solution for children from regions like Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, and others, where the security situation prevents even a mixed-format approach to education. Our pilot project aims to test whether periodic offsite educational camps can help make up for educational losses. During the first session, we observed how much the children missed their full-time education.
Maria Huliaieva, Project Manager (Mondo)
It is both an honor and a joy for our team to organize this camp.
Mykola Overchenko, Manager of the Foundation’s Educational Department
We have created a safe environment where children can learn and relax. The participants have the opportunity to discover new horizons, engage in active communication, and acquire skills that will benefit them in the future.
Children are growing up in a time of war and living in frontline areas. Our team’s mission is to create comfortable and engaging conditions for their recreation, balancing their emotional well-being and fostering easy socialization. I teach the children basic self-help principles, discuss how to respond to different emotional states, and help them learn to recognize and differentiate between those states.
Olha Frolova, Psychologist Involved in the Project
At school, I was very interested in literature, and I really enjoyed writing texts. I think I will continue doing these exercises at home since I didn’t have enough time at school. I imagined something completely different, but this experience exceeded all my expectations.
I made a lot of friends here. Yesterday, everyone was crying because they didn’t want to leave. We hugged each other, and it was clear that everyone had a wonderful time.
I met a lot of people because I enjoy socializing, and these people are really great. I have a fantastic time at school, and I love Ukrainian language and history. It’s amazing! Mr. Yaroslav and Mr. Dmytro are excellent teachers.
In our class, if you make a mistake, the teacher can humiliate you. But here, even if you say something wrong, it’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes, and you can always correct them. That’s why I was able to work harder—no one will say anything bad. If you fail, you can succeed next time, and if you succeed, you’ll be praised.
I really liked the Olympics, the teachers, and the school. It was very different from my usual school. The teachers were very kind, and everything was done in a fun and playful way.
Camp Participants
Donors
