Ukrainian children in a health camp in Czech Oskava
Last year, 56 children came from Ukraine for health rest. How many children were able to take advantage of a similar opportunity this year?
"This year, almost 60 children aged 9 to 14 came to us. Those who came again were able to refresh their knowledge of the basics of Czech, and we introduced those arriving for the first time, and I think successfully, to the basics of Czech," noted Tomáš Lukavský, chairman of the Czech Council of the Czech-Russian Society, who earlier mentioned that as the older generation dwindles, active knowledge of Czech among young representatives of ethnic Czechs in Ukraine is decreasing. The young guests take part in various competitions and sports events. The main goal of the children's stay in a favorable environment remains health restoration, as many of them have serious respiratory problems. The health camps are under the patronage of Professor Josef Koutecký, the founder of Czech oncology.
"The basis of the health course is climatotherapy. Children come to an ecologically clean environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. Oskava, where they are located, is near the town of Karlova Studánka, in an area that is apparently the cleanest in Central Europe," continues Tomáš Lukavský. "Climatotherapy is supplemented by rehabilitation procedures and full meals. All this should help alleviate respiratory problems, as many arrivals suffer from bronchial asthma. For this reason, children are taught to play the flute. It's a small miracle through which children not only learn to breathe correctly; through music we also teach them Czech. And since playing the flute is not very difficult, they see immediate results of their efforts, which motivates them to continue."
I am glad that the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic remembers our compatriots from the Chernobyl zone. This year, for the 26th time, it allocated subsidies that allowed even children from socially disadvantaged families to come to the health camp. The costs of accommodation and meals for the children are covered. Volunteers help with specialized activities, and sponsors also come to our aid. The only thing that the parents themselves pay for is the travel from their places of residence to Lviv. From Lviv we bring them to us, and we also provide the return journey. Among those who came were two children about 13 years old who had to earn money themselves for this trip in order to even get from their village to Lviv and pay for the passport paperwork.
Candidates for the health camp are selected by members of compatriot societies based on doctors' recommendations. The supervisor is the Czech National Council and the chairman of the union "Czech National Council of Ukraine" Lyudmila Mukhina, who this time managed to visit her compatriots at the camp. What delighted the children as part of the accompanying cultural program?
"A performance by the puppet theater of Spejbl and Hurvínek," says Tomáš Lukavský. "Maestro Klásek together with his colleagues showed the children excerpts from their repertoire. The children eagerly awaited this, drew pictures that were then evaluated by the artistic director of the theater and the actors as a jury."
Among the guests who visited the summer camp were firefighters, who introduced the children to some intricacies of their profession. "You know that the Czechs, among other things, once brought to Ukraine experience related to the basics of organized firefighting. One of the camp counselors said that in Zhytomyr there is an exhibition of historical documents related to the volunteer fire brigade service. However, until now the children did not have the opportunity, which our firefighters provided them, to familiarize themselves in more detail with firefighting: to hold a fire hose and try to extinguish a simulated fire, to climb into the truck."
As part of the local history programs, the children were involved in preparing a stage performance dedicated to the 700th anniversary of the birth of Czech king and emperor Charles IV, celebrated in 2016. All camp participants could try themselves as actors or artists, prepared decorations, selected music. The children also went on excursions.
"Given the gentle health regime, we do not organize trips for children to Prague, as they would be tiring for them. However, we visited Olomouc and the Javoříčko caves. Every year on the way to Šumperk we also stop at Nový Malín, named after Český Malín in the Volyn region of Ukraine. During World War II, all inhabitants of that village were killed. It can be said that this is the Ukrainian Lidice (a Czech village destroyed by the Nazis)," Tomáš Lukavský told Radio Prague.