Smile that says: I’m off to summer camp soon!
AFTER the terror of Russian bombing, seven-yearold Milana is learning to smile again.
Playing in the garden of her new British home, she is among the first to sign up to a summer camp funded by Mail Force.
The charity set up by the Mail, and generously supported by our readers, is paying for thousands of places for Ukrainian children who have fled the war for the UK.
It has secured spots at leading summer camp providers across the country, where youngsters can take part in outdoor sports, practise English and make friends.
Almost two-thirds of Ukraine’s children have been forced to flee their homes. Newly arrived Ukrainalso
‘We were panic-stricken’
ian families in the UK, or anyone on their behalf including Mail readers and host families, can now book summer camp places.
The scheme was launched yesterday and prompted a flood of applications to Mail Force’s partners providing the camps.
Among the first to sign up was Milana, who will attend a Kings Camps activity week near her new home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Her mother, Inha Demydova, 32, told how they escaped Ukraine after cowering for five days in their home in the port city of Odesa. Mrs Demydova’s husband Anton, 32, was not allowed to leave with them, like all Ukrainian men of fighting age.
She said: ‘We heard so many explosions. It was terrible. We were panic-stricken. Every time, in your heart, there was some hope it would end, but after five days stuck in a room with my daughter saying, “Why do they want to kill us?”, I knew we had to leave. You only need one rocket, one bomb, to kill you.’ They fled to Britain after hearing Boris Johnson announce the refugee programme.
She said: ‘Anton told me: “You speak English and Milana speaks English – it will be easier in the UK.” You have to think as a parent – about your child’s safety.
‘We had 30 minutes to pack, and I could only bring two toys for Milana. I could only have one bag, as I needed to be able to hold her hand.’
Milana is looking forward to her week on the Kings Camps course. ‘She still doesn’t feel normal and she’s shyer than before,’ said her mother. ‘So it’s fantastic that she is going on a summer camp week. It means she’ll be with other children – playing and talking with them, doing fun activities.’ Kings Camps are open to five to 14-year-olds, and sprinkled around England, Scotland and Wales, making use of the sports facilities of top independent schools and universities.
Premier Education is running summer camps at more than 200 venues across England for primaryaged children to try out everything from athletics and arts to badminton and drama.
In Northern Ireland, the Smile Club puts on swimming, orienteering and talent shows among a host of activities for four to 14-year-olds.
In London, St Mary’s Ukrainian School is laying on English classes, games, art therapy and day trips for three to 15-year-olds.