Long before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian Youth Association (UYA) had been organizing summer camps for a special group of children – those displaced by the war in Eastern Ukraine, which started not in February 2022 but 10 years ago in 2014. These camps were disrupted first by the worldwide pandemic, and then by the war.

The last such camp in 2019, Know your Own, was a great success, as was that year's GoFundMe fundraiser, Send a Ukrainian Displaced Child to Camp, which raised over $10,500 CAD.

With the full-scale war in Ukraine now already in its third year, hundreds of thousands of children have been impacted. Some have lost their homes, others have lost one or both of their parents fighting heroically in the war against the Russian aggressor, while still others have been taken prisoner with no further knowledge of their whereabouts or even if they remain alive. It is our hope that you will help us once again to restore this charitable camp with the goal of bringing hope and joy to some of Ukraine’s children!

This year's camp – Christmas Courage - will be held in western Ukraine, from December 27, 2024, through January 5, 2025. UYA volunteers from around the world,traveling at their own expense, will keep a watchful eye over the 100 children and youth who will be participating in the camp.

Similar to years past, the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada has pledged to cover the costs for at least 25 of the 100 participants. The additional participants will be funded by the Ukrainian Youth Association in other countries.

The cost for a single child to attend the ten-day camp (including two travel days) is approximately $300 CAD depending on the value of the Canadian dollar. This cost includes 3 meals and 2 snacks daily, travel costs for all campers to and from the camp, and all activities. This year the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada has once again committed to a minimum of $7,500 CAD to ensure that as many children as possible can attend. With an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:10, the Canadian UYA Executive also hopes to be able to subsidize travel costs for 1 or 2 volunteer staff that will be participating this year.

Planned activities at this year's camp include: creativity therapy, which includes the main arts of drawing, music, literature/text, dance, and theater, with a primary focus on working with bodily and emotional intelligence through physicality and movement, improvisation in the context of working with trauma, psycho-emotional recovery and increasing stress resistance. Participants will also learn about winter folk traditions with a theatrical production of the “Vertep.” Art therapy, music, sports activities, and excursions will round out the program.

We ask that you visit the Gallery and Updates sections of the campaign page where we will be posting additional information and photographs as they become available.

If you are unable to donate but wish to contribute in another way, please e-mail us.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UYA of Canada at: [phone redacted] or by email: ky-[email redacted] or, in Ukrainian only, the UYA in Ukraine here .

Contact information for individual branches of the UYA of Canada can be found here , while information regarding other national executives can be located by clicking here . Please choose the country that interests you at the top right of the page.

Please note that tax receipts for these donations will not be provided as the funds collected are being used outside of Canada and our charitable status does not apply for these types of donations.

Please show your support for this GoFundMe and help to bring joy into the life of a child impacted by war.

P.S. No amount is too small. Together, we can make a difference!