When Summer Means Working Harder to Give Children More of Their Childhood

While summer is a time when the pace slows down for many companies and institutions, for the Heart of a Child Foundation it is one of the busiest seasons of the year.

For us, summer holidays mean planning, preparation, packing lists, countless hours of organisation, and a dedicated team working together to ensure that dozens of children enjoy experiences they will never forget.

Without a doubt, the most anticipated activities of the summer are our mountain camps.

As every year, we organised three camp sessions in Vrancea County, bringing together 120 participants—90 children, 18 staff members, and 12 volunteers—for an unforgettable experience centred on childhood, friendship, and discovery.

A Holiday Experience Many Vulnerable Children Enjoyed for the First Time

The children attending the camps are beneficiaries of our Day Centres and the “One Village, One Child” Scholarship Programme. They come from families facing significant financial and social challenges, where summer holidays are often overshadowed by the daily struggle to make ends meet.

Every year, we welcome children for whom this is a series of firsts: the first time away from home without their parents, the first time leaving the village where they were born, the first time seeing the mountains, sleeping in a mountain lodge, hiking through nature, or simply spending several joyful days surrounded by children their own age.

For the children who had fled the war in Ukraine, the camp also provided a much-needed opportunity to leave behind, even for a few days, the trauma of war and displacement, and simply enjoy being children again.

Days Filled with Adventure and Discovery

Each morning began with warm-up exercises, music, and plenty of energy before another day of adventure unfolded.

Throughout the camp, the children took part in team games, competitions, educational and creative workshops, sports activities, and personal development sessions. Every child had the opportunity to get involved, discover their strengths, and learn something new.

They explored mountain trails, cooled off in the river, sang, danced, and spent unforgettable evenings around the campfire.

One of the highlights of the week was a visit to the local horse stud farm, where the children experienced horseback riding and tested their courage on a zipline—new adventures for many of them.

Between all these activities there were countless moments of laughter, new friendships formed naturally, and beautiful opportunities for Romanian and Ukrainian children to discover that play is a language everyone understands.

A Team That Poured Their Hearts into Every Day

Behind every game, workshop, and excursion stood a committed team.

The staff and volunteers of the Heart of a Child Foundation invested their energy, creativity, and care to make every day unique and memorable.

They planned activities, organised competitions, encouraged every child to participate, and remained by their side throughout the entire camp experience.

They also made every mealtime something to look forward to. Carefully prepared meals and delicious snacks added to the holiday atmosphere and gave the children one more reason to smile each day.

The Things That Never Fit Inside a Backpack

At the end of the camp, every child packed their belongings.

But the most valuable things never fit into a backpack.

You cannot pack laughter.

You cannot place your very first camp friendship into a suitcase.

You cannot take home the courage to try something new.

And yet, every child left carrying all of these invisible treasures.

They returned home with greater confidence, friendships that will continue long after the holidays, and memories that, years from now, will begin with the same question:

“Do you remember that summer when we went to camp?”

Just before leaving, one of the children told us:

“I wish it didn’t have to end. I wanted to stay longer. Here, I felt like I was part of a family.”

For us, those words are the greatest confirmation that every hour of planning and every effort invested were truly worthwhile.

Thank You to Everyone Who Made This Summer Possible

These camps for vulnerable children would not have been possible without the generosity of our partners and donors who chose to invest in childhood.

Our sincere thanks go to Marcant SRL, Stana G. Petru, Heart of a Child Galați UK, Nicdin Prodcarn SRL, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, GlobalGiving, and to all the generous donors who preferred to remain anonymous.

Every contribution was transformed into joyful days, new experiences, lasting friendships, and memories that these children will carry with them for years to come.

Because sometimes, doing good is simply this: giving a child a summer they will never forget.