For the third year in a row, children from Ukraine are spending carefree moments away from the war in various summer camps in Greece. For some of them, a beautiful cycle of two full weeks of unforgettable holidays in Greece, far from the shadow of war, ends today (Friday, August 9, 2024), while others will leave a few days later. These children from Kyiv and the tragically destroyed city of Bucha had the opportunity to experience moments of serenity and peace in the camps “Agios Andreas” of the Municipality of Athens and “Alexandra” in Kariani, Kavala.
This initiative, which was made possible thanks to the support of many organizations, aimed to offer the children, many of whom are war orphans or come from large families, a few moments of carefreeness and love. As Stefanos Machsma, the President of the Federation of Greek Associations in Ukraine, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency from Kyiv, the children were able to draw “a breath of peace and tranquility”, which is especially important since they constantly live in war conditions in their daily lives.
The organization of this summer “escape” from the difficult daily life of the children from Ukraine was carried out with the support of the Greek-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which covered the accommodation costs in the camp in Kavala, and the Pantelis Boubouras Foundation, which ensured the transport of the children from Ukraine. The Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and the Municipality of Athens played a crucial role in accommodating the children.
“I am sure that the return of these 96 children to their country is accompanied by the hope that the moments they experienced in Greece will give them the strength to face the challenges ahead. Greece’s offer was an act of humanity that shows that solidarity can make a difference even in the most difficult times,” says Mr Machsma.
Source and photo: vema.com.au
