Nova Ukraine helps Ukraine’s next generation build confidence and leadership skills through scholarships to Plast Ukraine and Motley Raccoons summer camps.
The future of Ukraine will someday be in the hands of its children, who will soon be the leaders tasked with rebuilding their country.
Nova Ukraine supports the development of these young members of society in multiple ways, including through several education initiatives such as this year’s Engineering Week, which reached more than 195,000 students in grades K-12. Just as important as developing their minds, however, is nurturing their spirits and ensuring that they enter adulthood with confidence, hope, and a deep appreciation for their homeland. That is where Nova Ukraine’s partnership with the outdoor leadership camps is playing a key role.
This past summer, Nova Ukraine provided full-ride scholarships for 180 children to attend Plast Ukraine summer camps, where children ages 2-18 participated in outdoor adventures. They learned practical skills such as first aid, cooking over campfires, and navigating wilderness trails, and many gained experience leading their own squads.
Children with scholarships from Nova Ukraine took part in 32 of the youth summer camps organized by Lviv Plast, continuing a patriotic tradition that has spanned more than a century. Describing itself as the National Scout Organization of Ukraine, Plast is an independent, nonprofit entity that operates branches across the country. It focuses on comprehensive patriotic upbringing and self-development of Ukrainian youth through the Scout method, play, practical outdoor living skills, and service to the community and Ukraine. The fact that Plast camps continue to operate in the current environment also provides a sense of belonging, continuity, and stability for participants.
Ukrainian scouts also have opportunities to participate in international scouting activities. In July, Plast scouts traveled to Italy for several joint camps, for example, giving kids from both countries opportunities to make new friends and enjoy shared experiences. Another group of Ukrainian Plast scouts joined a camp in Lithuania for outdoor adventures.
Nova Ukraine also partners with Motley Racoons and GoЙpa, two other providers of outdoor youth summer camps.
Support for Motley Raccoons Camp
In addition to relieving families of the cost of sending their children to the Plast camps, Nova Ukraine also provided scholarships to a Motley Raccoons camp for 55 children who have a parent who has been killed or gone missing during the war.
The camps, located in the Carpathian Mountains, provided participants with the opportunity to raft the Cheremosh River, hike Mount Pysanj Kamin, and participate in a wide range of activities such as workshops, games, and group campfires. The camp also seeks to develop leadership skills, and some of the participants said they were inspired to return in the future as camp mentors.
Nova Ukraine has been a longtime supporter of Motley Raccoons, which was founded in 2016 and provides children with a safe place to go on adventures, create new friendships, and enjoy some respite from the war.
As part of its Advocacy pillar, Nova Ukraine invests in Ukraine’s next generation and civil society to ensure that democratic values, world-class education, and civic leadership will endure. Its efforts include support for frontline education, youth leadership programs, veterans’ reintegration, cultural preservation, and more.
