Ukrainian Children’s Summer Camp in Estonia

Organised by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB), the camp was held in Raplamaa, in Alu manor.

The camp provided refuge for children who had lost their homes due to the war. “We were happy to work with ETCB and to provide support to children whose parents are fighting on the front line and have been forced to leave their homes,” said Kadri Maasik, CEO of ESTDEV.

The summer camp was held at the Estonian Defence League school and was supervised by Svitlana Shevchenko,  who fled from Ukraine in the spring and is now working as a kindergarten teacher in Estonia. “It was a great pleasure to work with the children, to be their guide and a friend. I truly admire their strength, openness and sense of togetherness,” said Svitlana Shevchenko.

During the camp, the children visited major Estonian cities, Tartu, Haapsalu, Pärnu and Tallinn. They also embarked on a one-day boat trip to Helsinki, visiting Linnanmäki amusement park, which was organised in cooperation with the Finnish Customs. As children of the members of the Ukrainian National Customs Board, they got to take a look inside the day-to-day business of the Estonian tax and customs board, see the equipment used, and meet the customs’ detector dogs.

“We did everything to help the children forget the horrors of the war for at least two weeks, and that their parents, who are at the front-line or in service at the border, protecting the freedom of Ukraine as well as Estonia, could be sure that their children are happy and cared for,” said Eerik Heldna, head of the ETCB Customs Department.

The camp was an extension of the humanitarian aid project “Happy moments for little heroes of Ukraine” by the Ukrainian Customs Service, which invited European colleagues to host children of Ukrainian customs workers in hope to support their mental health and well-being. In addition to Estonia, the customs offices of Poland, Latvia, Romania and other countries joined the call.

ESTDEV and ETCB would like to thank the supporters of the camp: Ukranian Cultural Centre, Finnish Customs Office, Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association, Estonian Defence League, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tallink Grupp, Pärnu Beach Hotel, Pärnu Cruises, Science Center AHHAA.