The First Lady of Ukraine, together with the team of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, visited Voices Camp in Bukovyna – a summer camp created to support the psychological recovery of children affected by the war. It was organized by the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation with the support of and in cooperation with the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
The camp hosts children from military families, families who were forced to leave their homes, as well as those living in frontline or de-occupied areas.
The First Lady joined the children in a creative master class, took part in a psychological session held in a play-based format, and spoke with the team of psychologists.
“Loss, forced maturity, constant stress – unfortunately, all of this has become part of childhood for many Ukrainian children. That is why psychosocial support is one of the core areas the Foundation is developing,” said Olena Zelenska.
Voices Camp is part of the Foundation’s systematic efforts to provide psychosocial support to children. Over the two years of partnership, nearly 500 children have attended the camps.
“Within the psychosocial support focus area, our Foundation implements exactly these kinds of initiatives – and we strive to make them accessible to as many children in need as possible,” emphasized Nina Horbachova, Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
Tina Karol, People's Artist of Ukraine and founder of the Tina Karol Charitable Foundation, which has been systematically supporting children in difficult life circumstances for over 11 years, also visited the camp.
Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, Zhan Beleniuk, also joined the meeting. He supported the initiative and spent the day with the children.
“Our camps are designed to give children the inner resources to overcome the consequences of war, to address their needs, and to strengthen their resilience in difficult conditions,” emphasized Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder of the Voices of Children Foundation.
The organization of the camp was made possible thanks to the financial support of an international partner – the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation.
“A generation of Ukrainian children and youth is growing up in the shadow of war – facing disrupted routines, the loss of loved ones, and deep psychological trauma. Their need for mental health support has never been greater. We are therefore proud to support the Olena Zelenska Foundation in their work with Voices Camp,” said Andreas Eriksson, Secretary General of the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation.