Recovery in Germany

In August 2024, 19 children from the front-line Kuryl and deoccupied Savyntsi communities of the Kharkiv region visited a recreational camp in Germany. And in the summer of 2025, a second visit took place – for 24 children from the Novopokrovka community.

Every day, children in the Kharkiv region face the consequences of a full-scale invasion, they live in a state of constant stress and uncertainty. For them, such trips are not just a vacation, but an opportunity to return to a happy and carefree childhood for at least two weeks, find new friends and feel safe.

These trips return a sense of joy to children, open up new horizons and help them believe in themselves and in life, which continues despite everything.

• To help children affected by the war to restore their psycho-emotional state.
• To give children positive emotions and help them to distract themselves from daily stresses.
• To promote socialization and establishment of friendly relations with peers.
• To support the development of creative abilities and the discovery of new talents among children.
• To involve children in cultural exchange, expansion of their outlook and knowledge about the world.

Every day of the Hoher Hain camp was filled with warmth, new experiences and activities. The children started the morning with exercises and swimming. In the afternoon they played volleyball, table tennis, archery or competed in go-karting. And in the evenings they gathered together – sang, danced, laughed. These simple joys helped the children feel safe.

The program provided conditions for children to discover their talents. They drew, participated in creative workshops, shared stories of their home communities, talked about their cherished dreams and plans for the future. And during the first visit, they organized a joint flash mob with German children, proving that true friendship has no borders.

During both visits, the children were treated to excursions around Germany. In 2024, the program included

• a fascinating walk through old Dresden and getting to know the historic fresco “The Fürstenzug” (eng: “Procession of Princes”);
• a visit to the animal park in Limbach-Oberfrohna, where they saw penguins and capybara for the first time;
• a trip to one of the magnificent castles of Saxony;
• an excursion to Weimar, where children visited the Goethe Museum, saw his residence and an exhibition about the life of the great writer;
• a trip to Chemnitz and an introduction to the city’s history;
• a trip to the Ukrainian House in Germany, which included an additional art therapy class.