While the Russian aggression in Ukraine rages on, some 5.8 million refugees - most of whom women and children - have found comfort in Europe. Members of the EPP-CoR Group have stepped in once again, this time to provide a safe place for Ukrainian children through summer camps organised across European Cities and Regions - an act of solidarity that offers a sense of normality to some of the millions of Ukrainian children whose lives have been shaken by the war.
Addressing an EPP-CoR Group meeting, Olgierd Geblewicz - President of the EPP-CoR Group and President of Westpomerania Region thanked EPP-CoR members Melanie Huml, Ionel Ovidiu Bogdan, Mieczysław Struk, Marek Wozniak, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz and Konstantinos Bakoyannis for their efforts to organise a camp for Ukrainian Children hoping that this will inspire other cities and regions to host Ukrainian children.
Watch overview of all camps organsied by our members
The Pomorskie Region in Poland with the support of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association - Gdańsk Branch hosted children from Ukraine in Winiec. Funds from the Poland-Russia Cross-border Cooperation Programme originally earmarked for projects in Russia were instead used to organise camps for children and young people from Ukraine.
Video: Mieczysław Struk, President of Pomorskie Region
The Wielkopolska Region in Poland hosted children from Kharkiv Region. During their stay Ukrainian children had the chance to participate in sport and art activities as well as visit cultural centres.
Video: Marek WOŹNIAK, President of Wielkopolska Region
The Maramureș County Council, in Romania, together with the Association of Cities in Ukraine, the Maramureș Prefect's Institution, the Maramureș Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, YMCA Romania and YMCA Baia Mare organized a camp for Ukrainian children from conflict zones in Donetsk, Karhkiv, Mykolaiv and Bucha.
Video: Ionel Ovidiu Bogdan, President of the Maramureș County Council
The Region of Bavaria organised a series of camps called 'Language encounters for children and young people from Bavaria and Ukraine'. The camps focused on sport and creative activities through which children and youths got to know a new language.
Video: Melanie Huml, Bavarian State Minister for European Affairs and International Affairs and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Bavarian Youth Exchange Foundation
The President of the Association of Cities of Ukraine and Mayor of Kyiv, Vitaly Klitschko, congratulated the cities and regions that organized camps in the European Union for Ukrainian children, saying that this is an act of solidarity that provides a sense of normalcy to some of the millions of Ukrainian children whose lives have been upended by the war.
Meanwhile EPP-led cities and regions remain committed to contribute in the reconstruction of Ukraine to give these children a better future.