From August 12 to 21, the Forever.Faster Kids Camp took place at the Super Camp base in the village of Tatariv. This unique initiative brought together children who lost their parents, homes, and friends due to the war, providing them with psychological support and assistance. The celebrity musical and Olympic guests celebrity musical and Olympic created the camp’s special atmosphere.
The camp aimed to create a safe space where children could relax, socialize, and learn to overcome psychological challenges through sports. During the camp time, the children had the opportunity to meet and spend quality time with Olympic sports stars: Olympic medalist and multi-time swimming champion Mykhailo Romanchuk, multiple long jump champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, and Olympic sprint medalist Khrystyna Stuy. The Olympic medalists organized an athletics day for the children, prepared by the Ukrainian Athletics Federation as part of the World Athletics program.
The children also played football with players from FC Shakhtar and chatted with famous footballers online. Additionally, they participated in other sports such as volleyball, basketball, frisbee, and Twister.
“Sports play a significant role in children’s physical, emotional, and social development. It helps relieve stress, improves sleep, and enhances a child’s psycho-emotional state. Losses in sports teach children how to handle failures, while victories boost confidence, perseverance, and self-belief. The experience of attending camps and participating in sports helps improve the emotional well-being of children who have gone through difficult life situations, providing them with the strength, support, and joy of communication,” says Marta Bilyk, psychologist at the Children of Heroes CF.
In addition to a rich sports program, the children participated in a photo scavenger hunt, created accessories and board games for a Mexican party, competed in an acting contest, and much more.
Musical stars and famous Ukrainian bloggers, among which Ukrainian singer DOROFEEVA, blogger Dasha Kvitkova, the band TVORCHI, and blogger Anton Ptushkin, enhanced the camp’s unique atmosphere.
In Ukraine, 44% of children show signs of potential PTSD, with older children exhibiting slightly higher rates compared to younger ones (47% versus 41%). According to the “Future Index” study, children from the eastern and southern parts of the country, where war risks are highest, show similar PTSD levels to children from other regions.
The PUMA team believes that children’s mental health is essential, especially in times of war. Therefore, the creation of this camp marks the beginning of efforts to support the psycho-emotional well-being of children.
