The workshop camp “Building Bridges, Not Walls” has taken place from October 26 to November 1 at the “Solnechnaya Dolina” (Sunlit Valley) resort in the Boyany village of the Chernivtsi region. This camp had been specifically created for children who have been internally dispaced from temporarily-occupied territories and the region of combat operations, as well as for children of parents who are participating in the anti-terrorist operation of the Ukrainian government. The goal of the camp was to create a safe and comfortable space for dialogue and joint learning, to leave the children refreshed and restored psychologically.

The children chose two workshops to attend every day: in theater, philosophy, mediating conflicts, discussions about art, dance, cooking, music, art classes, psychology, sport, popular science, blog writing, and so on. The Carpathian mountains’ picturesque environment and fresh air helped the childrens’ health and relaxation.

The program of the camp was created by the experienced teachers and psychologists of the “Space of Tolerance” Educational Center. A preparatory seminar for the camp’s workers and counsellors had been held before the children arrived.

This is the second time such a camp has been held in Ukraine. Last year the camp “Building Bridges, Not Walls” garnered a high resonance and had multiple positive reviews from the children themselves and their parents. 

The camp had been supported financially by the “Infopulse” company and the Kyiv office of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), as well as by private sponsors. Unfortunately, despite the financial obligations that had been formally undertaken by EAJC President Julius Meinl, the President and his team from MEINL Bank have not been able to arrance a steady and adequate flow of money into the Congress’ budget. All EAJC offices have been working without any contributions from the supposed main budget since August 1, 2015.