Young people from Ukraine enjoyed the summer in Helsinki

Helsinki made a cooperation agreement with the City of Dnipro in December 2023. One of the special themes of this cooperation is working with children and young people. To that end, the City of Helsinki collaborated with Leirikesä ry and Helsinki YMCA to hold a two-week camp for children and young people from Dnipro in Helsinki and its surroundings in July. A total of 30 young people from Ukraine came to enjoy the Finnish summer and take a break from their stressful everyday life in their war-torn native country.

The young people from Dnipro spent the majority of their camp period in the naturally beautiful environment of Kiljava Camp Centre in Hyvinkää. The camp provided them with plenty of action-filled theme activities, hobby and arts and crafts clubs, and peaceful tent village moments among their own group. In their leisure time, the children taking part engaged in activities such as wall climbing, jumping on a trampoline and swimming in the local lake. The workers of Leirikesä ry ensured that the camp was safe and provided high-quality activities and good food.

The camp was attended by young people of different ages from several schools in Dnipro. Polina, 16, enjoyed boating and spending time at the lake the most, while Margo, 14, liked the disco held during the camp.

"The camp was really fun, with beautiful nature and nice people. We got to enjoy a lot of different activities, such as games, swimming, sauna sessions and taking walks together," Polina recaps.