Our first camp of the summer began on July 4th with the US national anthem. Together, we sang, painted, created shell decorations, and wove bracelets. We were joined by Tyler, a volunteer from the US, who added to our joy and camaraderie. Amidst laughter and tears, we anxiously followed the news from Ukraine and mourned the victims of the Russian attack on the children's hospital, Okhmatdyt. Despite the sorrow, we felt united as the family of "This Child Here."
Summer Camps
Each summer, we take groups of 50 people, mothers and children, to a program near the Black Sea in Varna Bulgaria. We host them in a former Soviet era hotel for a week of activities and time on the beach and in the sea. This is a time when families bond and support each other, a time of some guided activities, and time in the water.
Water is the premier therapy for people who suffer trauma. In his best selling book, The Body Keeps Score, Bessel Van der Kolk writes about the ways in which trauma affects mental, emotional and physical health. However, it does work backwards. What you do with your body can also help heal your mental and emotional health. Water has that property. The moment your body feels water of the pool or the sea, your feelings within also change.
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