Category
Photoreports

Inside the Camp Where Ukrainian Kids Heal From the Russian War, in Photos

4 min read
Authors
Photo of Mykyta Shandyba
Mykyta Shandyba
Photographer
What Healing Camps for War-Affected Ukrainian Children Look Like
Ivanka, 9 years old. She dreams of becoming a singer, a model, and a famous photographer.

Help doesn’t always begin with a slogan. Sometimes, it starts with a quiet question: “How are you today?” At Gen.Camp, a therapeutic retreat for Ukrainian children affected by Russia’s war, the response is often silence—shoulders hunched, eyes lowered. From that silence, the healing begins.

When visitors arrive at Gen.Camp, they are often greeted by open-hearted, bright-eyed children. They’ll even take your hand to show a new game. The first time we arrived, these kids greeted us with a slice of cheesecake—and it was deeply touching. In their eyes, you see trust.

Brother and sister Mykola and Mariia. After their father was killed due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Mykola learned to assemble and operate drones.
Brother and sister Mykola and Mariia. After their father was killed due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Mykola learned to assemble and operate drones.

But beyond the laughter, their drawings tell a different story: crumbled homes, black suns, and faceless figures. Each child carries trauma.

The children were asked to draw their fears: missiles, figures of death, blood, and ominous symbols appeared on the paper. What they cannot express in words, they convey with paint.
The children were asked to draw their fears: missiles, figures of death, blood, and ominous symbols appeared on the paper. What they cannot express in words, they convey with paint.

Gen.Ukrainian, the civil society organization behind the camp, was founded to offer real, tangible support to Ukrainian children affected by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It provides intensive programs with professional psychologists, individual guidance, and careful trauma work. All of it adheres to international standards—yet remains deeply human.

The children jump into the water, laugh, and spend the day together. At Gen.Camp, they can simply be themselves, no pressure, no questions, just rest.
The children jump into the water, laugh, and spend the day together. At Gen.Camp, they can simply be themselves, no pressure, no questions, just rest.
Ukrainian children in the pool at Gen.Camp.
Ukrainian children in the pool at Gen.Camp.

These are children who have lost parents, been displaced, lived under occupation, or experienced forced deportation. They often cannot articulate what they’ve endured. But they can feel when someone is near, not to pressure, but to listen.

In the evenings, the children gather for intellectual games. Teams answer questions about the world, history, and Ukraine. It’s a time for learning to be together, to think, and to trust one another.
In the evenings, the children gather for intellectual games. Teams answer questions about the world, history, and Ukraine. It’s a time for learning to be together, to think, and to trust one another.
Mariana, 14 years old. Her father volunteered to fight Russian invasion and was killed a year and a half ago.
Mariana, 14 years old. Her father volunteered to fight Russian invasion and was killed a year and a half ago.

At Gen.Camp, each child is paired with a mentor and a psychologist. Therapy is woven into everyday life: cooking together, playing games, and building routines. The atmosphere is carefully designed to feel safe and familiar, with scheduled meals, quiet time, and diverse group activities that gently support recovery and let children be themselves.

Rosali Nombre, Communications Manager at Gen.Ukrainian, beloved by every child.
Rosali Nombre, Communications Manager at Gen.Ukrainian, beloved by every child.
Kyrylo, 12 years old. His father was listed as missing in action, but in 2024, during a prisoner exchange, the family received confirmation of his death. At camp, Kyrylo picked a beautiful bouquet on the hillside and, after a slow dance, gave it to the girl he likes.
Kyrylo, 12 years old. His father was listed as missing in action, but in 2024, during a prisoner exchange, the family received confirmation of his death. At camp, Kyrylo picked a beautiful bouquet on the hillside and, after a slow dance, gave it to the girl he likes.

This is more than art therapy. Gen.Ukrainian employs evidence-based psychological care, working in close partnership with European and American experts. They study how trauma affects memory, behavior, and emotion—and bring those findings into practice for Ukrainian educators, doctors, and therapists.

Vanui, Lead Psychologist at Gen.Ukrainian.
Vanui, Lead Psychologist at Gen.Ukrainian.
Dania, 7 years old. He lost his father shortly before his birthday. During his first days at camp, he barely spoke. By the end, he was eagerly playing with the other children on his own.
Dania, 7 years old. He lost his father shortly before his birthday. During his first days at camp, he barely spoke. By the end, he was eagerly playing with the other children on his own.

Crucially, Gen.Ukrainian isn’t filling gaps temporarily. It is building long-term support systems. That includes training professionals, transferring methodology to public institutions, and cultivating spaces where children can reconnect with trust and stability.

All of this is made possible by philanthropy. No child pays to participate. Everything is made possible through international support, donors, partners, and caring individuals.

Gen.Ukrainian does not present itself as a miracle solution.  They don’t promise to heal everything overnight. But they do offer something invaluable: the sense that there are adults nearby who can be trusted.

Each donation adds a few more peaceful days, a few more genuine smiles, and a few new drawings—brighter ones. You can be part of this support by donating to Gen.Camp here.

Ivanka, 9 years old. She dreams of becoming a singer, a model, and a famous photographer. The bandage reads “Love heals wounds.” A slogan created by one of the girls participating in Gen.Camp.
Ivanka, 9 years old. She dreams of becoming a singer, a model, and a famous photographer. The bandage reads “Love heals wounds.” A slogan created by one of the girls participating in Gen.Camp.
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