Ukraine
Click on the map for CIA World Factbook information on Ukraine
Our Opportunity
Both in thought and geography, Ukraine is a country located very much between the east and west. While some Ukrainians want to return to the days of old, many more are reaching for a better tomorrow. One of the remaining institutions of the past which can have great influence on the future is that of Pioneer Youth Camps. Under Communism, these summer camps were used to propagate the Communist ideology. While Communism and its message are no more, the means for propagating that message remains. Since the early 1990's, WWYC has partnered together with forward thinking Ukrainian leaders in education, government, and commerce to fill that ideological void and bring about positive change in local regions where camps are located. Where Communism was once proclaimed as the way of the future, Jesus Christ is now proclaimed as the way to God.
Due to the presence of strong, national Christians in Ukraine, the seed that is planted in the summer camp environment is cared for and grows during the rest of the year. WWYC enjoys a healthy partnership with a number of Christians, church, and ministry leaders who work to see that planted seed grow and mature.
Strategy
Our strategy in Ukraine is built upon the idea of being invited into existing camp structures. This allows us access that would not be possible if we organized our own camps. The camps in which we work accept us as part of the overall camp program they offer to their students during the summer. WWYC teams are integrated into the camp to work with the staff from the sponsoring organization. Our teams are given exclusive access to the kids for a block time in the morning and again in the afternoon. During these times, our curriculum and creative programs are carried out.
In the evenings, when students and staff have free time, slightly more formal gatherings are planned and all staff and children from the camp are invited to attend. Teaching takes place in this voluntary environment in a way that allows love to be shown, walls to come down, and truth to be shared.
During times when children are not brought directly to us, our teams fan out into the camp to play sports with the kids, take walks with them, participate in cultural activities, or to just sit and talk. In a word, we connect with them in any way they will allow us. Wherever we are in that camp and whatever we are doing, we seek to be light and life to the children and staff.
Statistics
Each year, more than 2,000,000 children visit a Ukrainian Pioneer Camp. Worldwide Youth Camps has now been invited into more than 1000 of these camps to conduct our camp program. In a country with a total population of less than 48,000,000, the means to reach 2,000,000 future leaders gives us great hope of affecting positive change in this land for generations to come.
Our Partnerships
A para-church ministry will be only as good as those with whom it partners. WWYC is blessed to have partnerships with some wonderful Christian as well as secular organizations in reaching the youth of Ukraine for Christ.
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The Ukrainian Camping Association (approximately 400 members) counts WWYC as its only partner outside the borders of Ukraine. WWYC has built an ongoing relationship with this vital organization by encouraging their efforts to minister to their campers. In annual meetings, we build relationships with new Camp Directors, introduce the concept of our youth mission, and establish new regions for growth.
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We offer opportunities for our stateside network of churches, universities, and groups to connect with their camp location throughout the year. Summer camp sessions, winter camps, and related follow up activities build relationships between countries that become additional opportunities to display Christ in our lives and actions to our Ukrainian partners.
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We actively and purposefully encourage first generation Ukrainian Christians, who serve as co-teachers and translators, to become in-country mentors to the children after summer or winter camp is over. This relationship is vital to nurturing the relationships started at summer camp. Our experience has shown us that these mentoring relationships lead to faith formation over a period of time until the children they mentor dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ.
