First Lady Visits Children’s Recovery Camp

Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, recently visited Voices Camp in Bukovyna, a summer camp dedicated to the psychological recovery of children impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Organized by the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation with the collaboration and support of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, the camp aims to host children from military families, displaced families, and those living in frontline or de-occupied areas.

During her visit, Zelenska participated in a creative master class and a play-based psychological session, engaging with both the children and the team of psychologists. Emphasizing the importance of mental health support, Zelenska remarked, “Loss, forced maturity, constant stress – unfortunately, all of this has become part of childhood for many Ukrainian children.” The camp is part of a larger initiative by the Foundation to provide psychosocial support to affected children, having assisted nearly 500 attendees over the past two years.

The visit also featured appearances by notable figures such as Tina Karol, a celebrated Ukrainian artist, and Olympic champion Zhan Beleniuk, who both supported the initiative. Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder of the Voices of Children Foundation, highlighted the camp’s mission to bolster children’s resilience and address their needs in the face of adversity.

Financial backing from the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation has been crucial in making the camp possible. Andreas Eriksson, Secretary General of the Foundation, underscored the urgency of mental health support for Ukrainian youth, stating, “Their need for mental health support has never been greater,” and expressed pride in supporting the camp’s efforts to aid children growing up amidst conflict.