Summer camp in Karlsruhe: A path back to childhood for Ukrainian children

Summer camp in Karlsruhe: A path back to childhood for Ukrainian children

A warm welcome to all readers! Today we report on an impressive initiative in Karlsruhe that supports children and young people from the war-torn city of Vinnytsia in Ukraine. This summer camp is taking place for the third time and is a ray of hope for the young people involved.

The project called “Summer Camp 2025 – Back to Childhood” offers participants a valuable reprieve from the often tragic everyday life of war. A total of 35 young people between the ages of 13 and 17, many of them severely traumatized by deceased or missing relatives, take part in this special experience. The camp will be opened by the First Mayor Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz in the town hall, where she will emphasize the history and culture of Karlsruhe and express the wish for peace in Ukraine. Strengthening the partnership with Vinnytsia is also close to her heart, as Karlsruhe.de reports.

Breathing breaks and encounters

The program is made up of two exciting sections: First, the young people spend six days in the picturesque Baerenthal in France, where they get to know each other better in groups. This is followed by a three-day stay in the “Kettelerheim” youth hostel in Karlsruhe. This time should not only serve to relax, but also benefit from team-oriented support. Three German-speaking Ukrainian teachers, a nurse and a psychologist are available to provide support to the participants.

This camp initiative is particularly important considering the alarming figures from the global refugee crisis. According to UNICEF, almost 50 million children are currently on the run worldwide. In Germany, many of them are at risk - around half of all refugees are children and young people who often suffer serious psychological injuries as a result of war experiences and flight. The outpatient department for children and young people at the SURVIVAL center in Berlin, for example, takes care of this particularly vulnerable group, as ueberleben.org has shown.

Help for self-help

Working with traumatized children and young people includes not only therapeutic offerings, but also leisure activities that are essential for development and social integration. Therapeutic methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy and EMDR help those affected to process their experiences and find their way back to a normal life. Regular appointments and the involvement of parents or caregivers are important for the success of the treatment.

Such support is needed more than ever in times like these. Organizations like AFS, with their broad international network, ensure that children and young people all over the world can gain intercultural experiences. For over 75 years, AFS has provided safe homestay programs and volunteer services to provide youth with opportunities for personal development and critical skills for today's globalized world, as afs.de highlights.

Overall, this summer camp not only shows the commitment of the city of Karlsruhe, but also the need to offer comfort and hope to children and young people who suffer from war and flight. May such initiatives reach many more young people and help them reclaim their childhood.