“Russia has no right to steal our lives”: How one summer camp in Ukraine supports children and youth with disabilities amid war

What's the problem?

Most families with a disabled member in Ukraine live below the poverty line and feel isolated with their problems, says Olesia Voloshyna, a spokesperson for the Vartymei Charity Organization. For 13 years, this nonprofit has been helping people with disabilities in Ukraine's northwestern city and community of Berdychiv. Many families can't access rehabilitation, education, or leisure activities, and their social interactions are limited. The situation is especially tough for young people with disabilities. They should be moving out of their family homes and starting independent lives, but Ukraine has almost no services to help them make this transition. Meanwhile, mothers often have no one to share their struggles with.

The war has made things even harder for families raising children with disabilities. Despite the significant international aid, they face more hardship, less access to rehabilitation and education, and a greater need for psychological support. For many mothers — who typically bear the full responsibility of caring for a disabled child — the idea of going on vacation with their child seems impossible.

What's the solution?

To support Ukrainian families with disabled children, the Vartymei Charity Organization opened a summer camp called "Village and People" in the village of Reia near Berdychiv for children and young people with disabilities. Volunteers from Vartymei provided a variety of activities for 34 children and their parents.

How does it work?

At first, the charity helped children only in rural areas because the team believed they needed more support. Some activities are available for disabled children in cities, while in villages, kids are often stuck at home. Over time, families from the city of Berdychiv and, later, displaced families joined Vartymei during the war.

"When we organize activities, we aim to improve the lives of families with disabled children, giving them attention and the support they need," says Olesia Voloshyna. "We help children with disabilities find themselves and develop their talents so that their lives aren't limited to four walls. We do everything we can to ensure they have a future even after their parents are gone."

Twice a week, the charity holds five-hour sessions for disabled children and youth, where they learn independence and self-care skills — how to cook, do laundry, iron, and clean. They also have practical lessons on how to shop at a store or pay for themselves in a café. The groups also do crafts, sew, and work with wood.

"We also organize trips to the zoo, Dobropark, or just a park, so they can see things they've never seen before," says Olesya Voloshyna.

Thanks to donors from Ukraine and other European countries and support from a local church, all the sessions and activities, including time spent at the Village and People camp, are free for the participants.

Before the war, the NGO Vartymei ran a summer day camp for disabled children, youth, and their families every year. It was a special event that everyone looked forward to, as it wasn't just a chance to relax and have fun but also to make friends — crucial for young people with disabilities.

After Russia unleashed its full-scale war in 2022, some families, team members, and volunteers went abroad. For the safety of those who remained, the camp was canceled for two summers.

"This year, we decided to try rerunning the camp for those attending our sessions throughout the year. We decided that Russia has no right to steal our joy and lives. All our families live under stress and need a break," says Olesia Voloshyna, Vartymei spokesperson.

Since the nonprofit operates on a 1+1 basis—one child with one personal volunteer—or 2+1—one volunteer for two children with milder disabilities, it needed many volunteers to ensure that everyone could participate in all camp activities and enjoy a complete rest and socializing experience. The organization started looking for volunteers among friends and acquaintances through social media. The team was apprehensive about whether they could find enough volunteers during the war.

"But we were surprised by how quickly we gathered a team of 34 volunteers," says Olesia Voloshyna. "Young men and women, adults, and even families dedicated a week of their time to people with disabilities and their families. Some volunteers even took vacation time for this, and some traveled back to Ukraine from abroad. We even had a serviceman who chose to help us during his leave. When we asked him why he wasn't resting after his service, he replied that positive emotions are his way of resting."

Before the camp started, all the volunteers received training on properly assisting, accompanying, and communicating with people with disabilities.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined our team. Without you, the camp would have been impossible. Thanks to the volunteers, our youth felt truly loved and that they matter to society," says the Vartymei representative.

The camp's name came about spontaneously. At first, Vartymei chose a Ukrainian theme: "to remember our traditions, revive our culture, and take pride in being Ukrainian." Then, the name "Village and People" naturally followed.

The four-day camp for children and young people with disabilities took place in July in the village of Reia. The camp hosted 34 participants with disabilities, aged 12 to 40, along with 28 parents. Among them were orphans and several families displaced from Ukraine's war-battered east.

During the camp, the young people participated in activities like crafts, games, dancing, competitions, singing, and lessons on Christian ethics. As the camp's closing event, the organization chose horseback riding sessions.

"We organized all the activities ourselves because we know our young people's abilities well — what's difficult and easy for them," says Vartymei's Olesia Voloshyna. "For example, we chose crafts they could create with minimal help, allowing them to express their creativity." 

There was also a separate program for parents, just as active as the one for the youth: games, crafts, tea, and coffee. While the parents relaxed and connected with each other, volunteers helped the children draw, play games, and even walk. In short, according to the project team, volunteers became the hands, feet, eyes, and friends of children and young adults with disabilities.

"I'm always with the moms at the camp. And I can see the immense happiness in their eyes, knowing that their children are loved and accepted just as they are," says one of the volunteers from the Village and People camp.

Does it really work?

"'Vartymei' is a place where you're always welcome and where they're always happy to see you," says Halyna Derliuk, a resident of Berdychiv and mother of a boy with disabilities.

"I'm a mother of three boys; one is special. My special boy is named Danylo, and he's 12 years old. His behavior is challenging; he hardly speaks and can't take care of himself. He has cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and seizures, but he loves going to the camp," says Halyna Derliuk.

The Derliuk family has known the Vartymei team for three years, and this was their second time at the welcoming camp. Halyna says the atmosphere is impossible to describe.

"Our assigned volunteer, Artur, cared for Danylo all these days. The program was packed with activities — there were various contests for the kids and activities for us, the parents. We had tea, shared our achievements, sang Ukrainian songs, and talked about God. The children painted flower pots, made bracelets, danced, put on a wonderful play, and did so much more," says Halyna Derliuk. "We especially loved the hippotherapy — what's a village without horses? Danylo adores horses, and I also rode — the experience was unforgettable. With 'Vartymei,' we don't feel out of place."

In the photo above, you see 34-year-old Yaroslava Yatsura, who has autism. While she didn't feel ready to ride a horse, she did touch and lean against one. Her mother, Olena Yatsura, said this was her daughter's first ever interacting with a horse.

Olena and Yaroslava are displaced from the eastern city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. They've been attending the camp since September 2023, and this was their first time at the camp in the village of Reia.

"Yaroslava has difficulty interacting with strangers, but she's been happily attending 'Vartymei' all year, and she'd come home talking about the kids, the adults, and the recipes they used there to cook meals," says Olena. "The four days at the camp were nothing short of a miracle! There wasn't a single moment of waiting or pausing — constant games, contests, quizzes, singing, and dancing. Everything was memorable — from the warm welcome with bread and salt to the farewell when all the teachers and volunteers lined up to wave goodbye to us as we sat in the buses. Throughout those four days, we didn't see a single teacher or volunteer without a smile or looking tired! They cared for everyone as if we were family. If only society treated us this way just a little!"

Nadia Aheikina is also the mother of a child with disabilities. Her daughter, Tetiana, is 27 years old but experiences the world with the mindset of a 3- or 4-year-old. Tetiana has been involved with "Vartymei" for almost eight years, and this was not her first time at the camp.

"We loved everything — me and my child," says Nadia. "Everything was well-organized and not overbearing. The children planted cacti in pots, which they had painted themselves, and made bracelets with beads." Nadiia adds that Tania came home tired but very happy. "We hadn't even gotten off the bus, which had taken us home for free when she was already asking, 'Are we going again tomorrow?'" Nadiia smiles.

Even more helpful solutions!

"Our camp is a demonstration of love for these families — they feel accepted by society and supported," says Olesia Voloshyna.

The camp co-organizer adds that there are very few facilities in Ukraine adapted for people with disabilities. Most are inconvenient (lacking ramps, smooth pathways, wide doors, etc.). Because of this, the camp has only been a day camp so far. The organizers dream of having a place where they can hold overnight camps.

Starting in September, the Vartymei charity will resume regular development sessions to help disabled children improve their social integration skills.

"People with disabilities are just like everyone else; they can participate in everything, but they need a little help," says Olesia Voloshyna. "It's important for society to accept everyone and for people not to point fingers or blame parents for having a child with a disability. We want to prove that children with disabilities can contribute to society, work, and care for themselves and others. Children and young adults with disabilities shouldn't end up in state institutions like orphanages or homes for older people. Through our work, we hope to change society's attitude toward people with disabilities and increase accessibility for them in our region and throughout Ukraine."