Let's give back to children a happy childhood!

We are all from childhood. The phrase is quite stale, but it quite accurately reflects the reality – almost every one of us with trembling nostalgia remembers the places where he grew up. Unfortunately, due to the war in Ukraine, many children are deprived of the opportunity to play in the yard of their own home or in children's entertainment centers.

The western parts of Ukraine have become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, namely the elderly, women and children. Satisfying the basic needs of internally displaced persons (food, hygiene, medicine, clothing, etc.), we completely forget about the needs of children in whom the war stole a real childhood.

From the first days of the war, Caritas Sambir-Drohobych Diocese of UGCC in Drohobych (Lviv region) sheltered dozens of children who experienced the horrors of war. Currently, 50 children from Kyiv, Borodyanka, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv, aged 2 to 16, live in the 90.2 m2 house. However, the house does not have a specially equipped space for children, where they could play with volunteer animators, and there is no playground near the house.

Therefore, within the framework of this project we plan to carry out repair works in the existing premises, purchase children's toys and inventory, as well as equip an outdoor playground by purchasing a swing, a children's playground, a sandbox and 4 benches.

When children do not have the opportunity to play on their own, away from direct adult supervision and control, they are unable to learn to control their lives. Adults may think that they are protected, but in reality they reduce their joy and sense of self-control. Children can't even decide for themselves what they like and what they don't. Accordingly, they are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental disorders in the future. Conversely, children who spend a lot of time playing actively outdoors or in specially equipped playrooms grow up to be more confident, with a healthy mind and well-developed social skills.

In addition, playgrounds are the first place where a child learns social interaction with peers. At the same time, he develops his vocabulary, teamwork, negotiation and compromise skills. Our experts have analyzed which outdoor games affect children's brains. It turned out that "many of the fundamental tasks that children have to perform, such as research, risk-taking, fine and gross motor skills, and the acquisition of vast amounts of basic knowledge, can be most effectively mastered by playing outdoors".

Thus, there are people in Ukraine who are able to create a safe, interesting and harmonious environment for the comprehensive development of children affected by the war, which in turn will affect the formation of a healthy society. It gives hope!

Let's give children back a happy childhood together!