Summer in the family support program

"> 31.08.2018 Our children were able to spend summer in an unforgettable way thanks to our Family Support Program. Every year our kids get to leave the city during the summer to attend an inspiring and creative summer camp on the coast of the Finnish Gulf. There is the magical air saturated with the smell of summer pine, the kids are given a much need respite from the everyday realities of life in the state home. At the camp children have the chance to socialize more with each other, develop their talents, splash around in the water, and, most importantly, to feel like they are more self-sufficient and can do the things that other children can do. It always happens that each session forges its own special bond, with inside jokes, funny pictures, and memorable moments. The camp is often a little life in itself, and we are very happy to share it with our kids.


  

This year our teacher Evgeniya Damme, who worked at the camp, said: “This year, the camp was especially great because we were gifted such good weather. Parents would call up and ask me how their children were doing, whether they were relaxing okay, and then they would laugh and ask, “can we come?” The children had a good rest. What else is there to say? We swam and lay out on the hot sand, walked through the woods, had campfires on the beach, sang songs, ate homemade pies, wrote letters to each other and read them in the morning… in short, we laughed a lot….

 

The camp was held in two shifts, each shift for eight days. A total of 17 kids took part, each very different and beautiful in their own way. When the shifts ended they each had a performance, and we sent the kids off under the “March of the Slavyanka,” it was sad and joyful like in the movies. I hope next year will be the same.”

This gift to the child was made possible by our friend and endless benefactor, Margarite Hoffman. Many thanks to her and to everyone who helps out year after year and makes life a little bit warmer for our children.