“Give Kindness. Children-to-Children: Bukovynian Holidays” — a Restorative Camp for Children

In early February 2026, “Bukovynian Holidays” was held — a three-day restorative children’s camp in the Carpathians, implemented within the charitable project “Give Kindness. Children-to-Children.” The initiative aimed to provide psycho-emotional support and short-term recovery for children of volunteers and veterans from Dnipro, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv, who live under the constant threat of shelling.

The project marked an important stage in the evolution of the “Give Kindness. Children-to-Children” initiative, which had previously been known primarily for its Christmas charity actions. In 2026, the focus was expanded from material assistance to creating a safe environment, silence, and space for the restoration of childhood.

The goal of the project was to ensure psycho-emotional support for children by organizing a restorative camp outside the active conflict zone. The Carpathians were chosen as a safe location, far from the frontline, where children could step out of the context of constant anxiety for several days.

The camp programme included creative and applied arts workshops, active and team-based games, outdoor activities, and informal peer interaction. All activities were designed to reduce psycho-emotional stress and restore a sense of safety, stability, and positive social interaction — without air-raid sirens, news, or constant tension. A total of 13 participated in the camp.

According to Olena Tanasiichuk, President of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation: “Children growing up during war need not only immediate assistance, but also systematic care for their emotional well-being. A safe space, time to play, communicate, and recover is not a luxury — it is a necessity. Initiatives like this help preserve childhood and inner resilience, despite the war.”

The implementation of “Give Kindness. Children-to-Children: Bukovynian Holidays” made it possible to create a safe space for short-term psycho-emotional recovery, provide a change of environment, and pilot the format of short restorative programmes as an effective tool for supporting children from war-affected regions.

The initiative became another step toward building systemic support for the emotional well-being of children growing up in conditions of war, reaffirming the importance of investing not only in assistance, but also in recovery and the preservation of childhood.