Provide Summer Camps for 500 Youth in Transylvania

Summer is once again one of the busiest and happiest times of the year for our team. Over the past months we have already organized 9 one-week summer camps in 6 different locations across our region, welcoming more than 300 children between the ages of 6 and 14. While many of the children come from disadvantaged families, others come from more stable backgrounds. Bringing them together in the same camps helps create friendships, encourages mutual understanding, and gives every child the opportunity to grow, learn, and play on equal terms.

Every camp has been filled with fun and meaningful activities. Together we played sports, created arts and crafts, sang songs, practiced tongue twisters, performed short theatre games, organized small parties, and enjoyed many team competitions. Through these activities, children learned to work together, communicate, solve problems, and build self-confidence while simply having fun. Every day also included English learning through games, conversations, and team activities, making language practice a natural part of the camp experience.

This year we have seen an especially high interest in our camps. Our biggest camp had more than 80 participants, and only rarely did we have fewer than 20 participants at a location. It is encouraging to see how many families continue to trust our programs and how excited the children are to return year after year.

Our camps would not be possible without our volunteers. So far, more than 20 local volunteers and over 40 international volunteers have helped organize activities and support the children. Many of our international volunteers come from English-speaking countries, giving the children a wonderful opportunity to use English in real conversations instead of only learning from textbooks. Just as importantly, our volunteers become positive role models for the children, showing them that kindness, teamwork, curiosity, and respect can cross language and cultural barriers.

One of the most rewarding moments for our team is seeing former camp participants return years later as local volunteers. It reminds us that these camps create lasting memories and inspire young people to give something back to their own communities.

This summer we also introduced a stronger focus on digital awareness. Technology can be a wonderful tool when used wisely, but we also want children to understand the risks of spending too much time in front of phones, computers, and tablets. Through discussions, games, and outdoor activities, we encourage them to find a healthy balance and discover how much fun they can have by playing, creating, and spending time together.

Behind every successful camp there is also a great deal of preparation. Our volunteers and staff continue to improve activity plans, prepare materials, organize logistics, and adapt games for different age groups. Each camp teaches us something new, helping us make the next one even better.

The second half of the summer is still ahead of us, and we are looking forward to organizing many more camps. We hope to welcome hundreds more children, giving them a safe and welcoming environment where they can learn, make friends, practice English, discover new talents, and enjoy an active summer instead of spending the holidays isolated at home or in front of a phone or computer.

Thank you to everyone who supports this project. Your generosity helps us provide opportunities that many children would not otherwise have. Together, we are helping children build friendships across different backgrounds, develop confidence, improve their English, and create positive memories that can influence their future long after the summer ends.