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.
New experiences from a tent camp in nature
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.
Seeing the best sights of Helsinki on an urban adventure
During their trip to Finland, the children and young people also got to enjoy an urban adventure and see the most important sights of Helsinki. They also met Deputy Mayor Johanna Laisaari and talked about their experiences with her.
“I’m happy that the cooperation between Helsinki and Dnipro has made a camp like this possible. Helsinki supports you and your country and will continue to do so, and you will always be welcome to come back,” Laisaari told the young people.
Helsinki YMCA provided a variety of activities, such as visits to Oodi, Suomenlinna, the Market Square and Kiasma.
“The best thing about the trip to Helsinki was visiting all the beautiful places. I liked the nature of Suomenlinna and getting to see the sights while riding a tram,” Margo says.
Naturally, the trip to Helsinki culminated in a visit to Linnanmäki.
“The trip to Linnanmäki was my favourite thing in Helsinki. My favourite ride was Taiga,” Polina says.
A break from the stresses of everyday life
Mervi Karttunen and Jyrki Eräkorpi from Helsinki YMCA were present at the camp. Eräkorpi finds it important that the young people be given an opportunity to enjoy the summer and take a small break from their everyday life.
“Of course, we don’t know exactly what these young people’s everyday life is like, but I’m sure that the camp was a well-deserved break from their difficult situation. Solidarity consists of small actions, and the camp enables us to do something concrete for the young people and their country,” Eräkorpi comments.
He finds it important that Ukraine be shown continuous sympathy and support.
“Seeing the Ukrainian flag at Rautatientori Square left an impression on the young people. Such symbolic acts also serve to remind Helsinki residents of the fact that Ukraine will continue to need support for a very long time,” Eräkorpi says.
Mayor Juhana Vartiainen is also happy that the camp was a success.
“It has been great to see how it has clearly been refreshing for the children and young people from Dnipro to spend time in a peaceful environment here in the Helsinki region. It is my hope that their contacts with Finnish young people and their experiences from this trip will help them hold on to hope and find strength to carry on in the difficult conditions of Ukraine,” Vartiainen comments.