Thanks to your support, 22 children from the Zaporizhzhia region spent 4 unforgettable days in the Bukovynian Carpathians. From June 25 to 29, the children stayed in a camp in the village of Samakova, Koniatyn community, Chernivtsi region. In this village, located at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level, thanks to the efforts of the "Saigon" sports club and the Koniatyn community, rooms for children's accommodation were restored at the local school, and new sanitary facilities were built.
The "Happy Child" charitable foundation and its tourist project "Klubok", together with the youth movement "Baida" from Zaporizhzhia and the "Saigon" sports club from Chernivtsi, jointly organized this camp.
Children from a frontline city had many interesting and useful activities:
- hiking to a picturesque rock and a mountain lake;
- visiting a vegan farm where environmentally friendly berries are grown;
- getting acquainted with Hutsul traditions and songs thanks to Ms. Maria, a local teacher and ethnographer;
- the most extreme part — a trip by mountain vehicle to the Baikalivka meadow at an altitude of 1300 m, offering stunning views of the Chornohora ridge, Hoverla, and Pip Ivan. A large carousel and swing were also recently built there;
- martial arts training and shooting with air rifles and pistols;
- volleyball games and relay races in the local school gym;
- communication and dancing by the campfire.
We would especially like to thank the staff of the local school and Taras from the "Saigon" club for the excellent meals, as well as treats of bilberries, cherries, and cakes on the last evening of the camp.
We also thank Ania and Olena from the "Baida" movement of the Melitopol community for accompanying the children, purchasing tickets, organizing leisure activities, and actively participating in the camp.
It should be noted that the Bukovynian Carpathians are not a very well-known region among Ukrainian tourists. It is not easy to get here compared to Yaremche, Vorokhta, or Slavske — the only dirt road along the Cheremosh River requires patience from drivers and takes a lot of time. Perhaps after the war, this logistics will become easier.
However, it is likely that due to its remoteness and inaccessibility, in places like Samakova, with almost no tourists, the authentic Hutsul culture is preserved, and nature suffers less from damage and pollution.
During our next trip on July 18, 2025, we plan to continue exploring these places. 20 children from vulnerable categories from frontline Zaporizhzhia will travel from the village of Samakova through the Baikalivka meadow to the abandoned high-mountain village of Vypchyna, and then to Lake Bukovynske (or Mountain Eye). If time allows and weather permits, we will reach the former radar station "Pamir" near the Romanian border. In the next report, we will share more about this journey and our discoveries.
Once again, we thank our donors who help children from frontline regions see Ukraine and travel through the Carpathians. We still need your support — on average, participation of one child in such a trip costs the foundation from 5000 UAH. Participation is free for children, and there are far more applicants than our financial capacity allows.
We would be grateful for your donations to cover tickets, equipment, food, and leisure activities for the children:
We remind you that since 2004, we have been reporting on our website about every hryvnia and its use.
