Three weeks. Three sessions. 35 families. Dozens of stories of resilience and strength.

Small steps toward big changes that left a deep emotional imprint on the work of our organization. We put tremendous effort into making these family camps happen — and ensuring that every participant received the care and support they deserved.

Our shared journey in this place of strength has now come to an end. And with heartfelt gratitude, we want to share what it meant. 35 families entrusted us with their stories and embarked on a journey of psychological healing and physical renewal. A peaceful and quiet place in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, a team that knows how to support, and a community of like-minded people — all of this created a space for much-needed recovery and emotional recharge.

Our summer camp program was designed for families from vulnerable groups affected by the war, with a strong focus on both mental and physical well-being. We ensured that adults and children alike could rest, try something new, and be filled with positive energy. From active sessions (morning exercises, aqua aerobics, swimming, sports games, walks, and hiking) to psychological consultations, reflection, relaxation, educational talks, women’s circles, and therapeutic art classes — every element supported healing.

For many, this was their first journey they truly wanted to take. In the past, they had only left home to escape war.

“My mother, my two daughters, and I are displaced from Donetsk region. Our hometown Sloviansk is under constant shelling. At the end of January 2025, a KAB missile strike damaged our home — all the windows shattered, and part of the wall and roof collapsed. Now we live in a small village in Kharkiv region. It’s somewhat quieter, but still too close to the front line. Drones fly over constantly. We live in constant stress, especially the children,” — shares one participant.

“We are a large family living in Kryvyi Rih — a frontline city under constant shelling. My children and I are completely exhausted from the air raids and explosions. We’ve only left our city twice in our lives. We’ve never been to Zakarpattia. This was a unique opportunity for us — one we could never afford on our own. With the war, there is no work, no income, and we’re barely getting by,” — says another woman.

For some, this was the first time in months they had stepped beyond their own yard.
One woman had lived in despair for a long time. She lost contact with her beloved — he went missing on the front lines. Left alone with two children, she knew she needed to hold herself together — but she couldn’t do it alone. She filled out the application for Voice of Romni’s family camp. And it turned out to be the best decision. Here, she found the support she so deeply needed.

And these stories — there are dozens of them. Families came from Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and other regions. Many participants still live in frontline areas, where the sound of explosions is a constant backdrop. Some spent months hiding in basements. Others survived occupation and were threatened at gunpoint for being pro-Ukrainian. Some have loved ones currently defending Ukraine, and others have already lost someone dear. One little boy’s life was saved by a Ukrainian military drone after Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam — he had been trapped on the roof of his house.

All these people needed one thing — a place without explosions or sirens. A space to breathe freely. A space where they didn’t have to fear for their own lives or the lives of their children. And that is exactly what we tried to provide. Our Roma families, our strong women — service members, volunteers, mothers and wives of defenders, displaced women, and women with disabilities — all found here a space for healing.

We’re proud that our project was recognized by Ukrainian national media. TV channels Suspilne Uzhhorod and ICTV visited the camp to witness and share these stories of strength and transformation.

Inspired and re-energized, we return home, committed to continue supporting the most vulnerable. The Voice of Romi team thanks the families for their trust, our German partners Kindernothilfe E.V. for their continued support and belief in our mission, and the Ozero Vita Hotel & Recreation Complex for their warm hospitality and high-level service.

We dream of welcoming even more families to our camps next year. Because we believe that every mother who fills out our application with trembling hands deserves days of peace, warmth, and care — the same love and care she gives her children every single day. If we were able to create even one moment where she felt supported and could regain her strength — then we did something right. Today, women carry the weight of the world — and they need moments to exhale, to feel the power that comes from care, and to hear the words: You are not alone. We support you. We see you. And we care!