EVERETT, WA. July 23, 2024 – The YMCA of Snohomish County is excited to announce a partnership with Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW) to provide Ukrainian refugee children with a transformative summer camp experience. The collaboration came together quickly after a need was determined by the VOAWW that Ukrainian families were looking for safe, engaging activities for their children during summer break.
“Many Ukrainian families are not sure what to do with their children during the summer while they work, and they don’t want them to be bored at home alone, especially with the extra challenges these children may face,” said Olga Wiley, Family Support Specialist, Volunteers of America Western Washington. “We know the Y is a great place for connection and community and after some conversations with Y staff, we learned about the summer camp opportunity and knew we had to make it happen.”
Washington has a large and growing Ukrainian community. Since 2022, Washington has welcomed more than 25,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war. Attending summer camp offers children a safe, nurturing environment where they can heal, grow, and enjoy being a kid after enduring significant trauma and upheaval in their young lives.
“We are honored to provide this opportunity for local children,” said Megan Proost, Director of Child Care Advancement, YMCA of Snohomish County. “Our camps are supportive environments where children can make new friends, practice language skills, and find a place where they belong. This partnership allows us to extend our mission of strengthening communities to those who need it most.”
The Y is placing children in camps across the county and the VOAWW is helping families register by providing technical support and translation services at their weekly office hours. Summer camp offers a variety of activities to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being. From outdoor adventures to sports to arts, Y camp offers a holistic program supporting every child with trained counselors and staff on hand to ensure a safe and inclusive experience.
“Summer camp and youth sports are very popular in Ukraine and participating in Y programs creates a sense of normalcy, community, and fun for these children,” said Wiley. “They are creating core memories of their first introduction to American culture and experiencing kindness from staff and fellow campers. I just heard from a mom who said her daughter has found healing and happiness at camp for the first time since coming to Washington. We want all kids to experience this kind of emotional relief and joy.”
The Y and VOAWW hope to send children from over 60 families to camp this summer. Camp is offered at no-cost to the families. It is funded by YMCA donors and community partners. For more information about how to support this initiative, please visit https://camp.ymca-snoco.org/campership.
