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12 OUR LIFE • November 2022 With the escalation of russia’s war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, children have been es - pecially traumatized. The bombing, shelling, air raid sirens, and calls for taking cover in shelters and basements have been contin - uous in some areas and intermittent in oth - ers. Families have been separated. In many cases, parents have been called to fight the war and have not returned home. An article in the New York Times (September 12, 2022) posted these statistics regarding Ukrainian “Children of War”: Dead – 361; Wounded – 702; Disappeared – 206; Deported – 6,159; Returned – 50. The author, Emile Ducke, further notes that one-third of Ukrainian children – 2.2 million – have been forced to flee their homes; many have been displaced two or three times. Children have been placed with relatives in communities away from the devastation of active fighting, sometimes with other family members, at other times in group shelters and orphanages. Routines such as school at - tendance and extra-curricular activities have been disrupted or temporarily terminated. The UNWLA has been able to offer respite for many children by funding camps and projects this past summer. We have supported sever - al of the programs for many years, and have been introduced to others more recently. For example, the UNWLA has worked with Father Yurko Ostapyuk for several years. As head of the Center of Student Chaplaincy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lviv, Father Ostapyuk brings his team of student chaplains to work with children traumatized by war. This year, a spiritual, patriotic camp was held during the last two weeks of July in the village of Ivankiv, Kyiv oblast – a village that had been occupied by russian forces until early April. For that reason, parents and families were very hesitant to welcome the camp leaders, all new - comers, into their town. The feeling in the community was palpable. But slowly, Father gained the trust of the Ivankiv families, and the camp came to fruition. Seventy children between the ages of 11 and 16 attended, though the village itself included 300 children. Army officials explained that the rather low participation was due to continued fear of active bombing. The camp itself, because it was situated 50 kilom - eters from Belarus, was held primarily indoors, and children rarely played outside. Bomb shelters were accessible. Fortu - nately, there were no incidents for the duration of the camp, and the program ran smoothly. Father Ostapyuk shared that many of the campers became acquainted with the Bible and catechism for the first time and engaged in conversations about the teachings of the Church. The camp schedule also included counseling, games, crafts, workshops, and opportu - nities to socialize. Meals were prepared offsite by volunteers and brought in daily. Because children were not able to stay at the camp overnight, they had to endure travelling up to 100 kilometers a day, going through the stress of numerous checkpoints. The camp’s final days presented an opportuni - ty to express dreams for the future. “I dream of victory and peace” was a common thread. A second session of the camp was held for two weeks beginning August 29. Father Taras Mykhalchuk, Prior of the Garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Lviv, directed a camp with the theme, “Always by your side.” Children whose parents were heroes in the Ukrainian war, fighting for freedom, were invited to par - Oka Hrycak , UNWLA Social Welfare Chair UNWLA Supports At-Risk Children in Ukraine Summer Projects Father Mykhalchuk’s campers on their trip to Zoopark Limpopo.
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