Martyna Horecka from Blue Cross Poland shares her impressions from a day at the Life Skills summer camp
As part of our IBC prevention through Life Skills education programme in Poland and Romania, the local project teams are currently organizing various summer activities for young refugees from Ukraine. In this blog post, our Project Coordinator Martyna shares some insights into the summer camps Blue Cross Poland is running in Pszczyna.
7:45 We all gather at the train station in Bielsko-Biała, a mid-sized city in Southern Poland, and together take the train to much smaller Pszczyna, where our summer camp activities will take place. The kids are happy and excited to spend another day with their friends.
8:45 We get off the train and take a leisurely walk through a beautiful park in Pszczyna, a charming place filled with lots of green trees, bushes and ponds. During our walk, the children always look out for the animals living in the park. Today, we are greeted by a family of ducks with ducklings. The kids are delighted.
9:30 Having arrived at the Blue Cross Center in Pszczyna, we start off with our Life Skills session. The topic covered today is emotions, and ways to cope with difficult emotions. First, the children share their thoughts on what emotions are and what different emotions they know. They then draw emotion cards, with their task being to pantomime the emotions on the cards using gestures, body posture and facial expressions. After a pair activity, it’s time for some physical exercise: we scatter emotion cards around the room and create a “human train”. For our train to reach each station (selected emotion card), the children, acting as train cars, have to express the given emotion using their whole body while moving towards the station. Next, in groups, the children discuss their methods of dealing with difficult emotions. They then perform skits in which the characters experience difficult emotions. The others watching are tasked with identifying the emotions and coming up with possible solutions and coping strategies. During the exercise, I learn that we have quite some acting talents in the group!
11:00 After a break and a quick workout, it’s time foooooooor – art therapy! For many of our artistically gifted children, this is the favorite type of activity. Continuing the theme of emotions, the children draw difficult emotions and then tear the paper into pieces, symbolizing ridding oneself of that emotion. Next, we fill the sheets with visualizations of all the emotions we know, each with its own color, shape, character. Finally, we make “positive energy amulets” from beads: the children choose beads that symbolize positive emotions for them and create colorful personalized necklaces. I assure you, you won’t find combinations as beautiful as the ones our children create in any store.
13:00 After a long-awaited lunch, there is time for a moment of relaxation during which the children can choose to pursue any activity they want. And here we have some real diversity – some lie on blankets and treat themselves to a blissful nap under the shade of a tree, while others play football on the sunny field. There’s even a trampoline for those who didn’t overeat at lunch and need to burn off energy.
13:30 The last activity is sports and recreational activities, and here we have (almost) all Olympic disciplines available: obstacle course racing, swimming, trampolining, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, gymnastics on the playground. Those who prefer something less active play board games.
15:00 A small snack before it’s time to go home! While we walk back to the train station, the children teach me some interesting facts. For example, I learn that in Ukraine, in addition to schooling, great value is placed on discovering and developing artistic talent among children from an early age. This includes singing, dancing, painting and acting – now I know why the kids enjoy sessions that include role plays and singing so much.
15:40 We’re going home!!! I observe the children’s faces on the train – some are tired, almost falling asleep, others are still full of energy and chatty. The most important thing, however, is that all seem happy and satisfied.
16:15 The parents eagerly await their children on the platform; the children run out to meet them. Endless kisses and hugs. While I take it all in, and my only thought is that it has been a good day … and I can’t wait for the next one to come!
