Lists of children with respiratory system problems in need of health rest are compiled by ethnic societies in Ukraine, and the stay of descendants of ethnic Czechs in their ancestors' homeland is financed by the Czech Ministry of Health. Tomáš Lukavský, chairman of the Czech Council of the Czech-Russian Society, told Radio Prague about how the tradition of health camps began:
"Part of the families of Ukrainian Czechs, despite the possibility of voluntary resettlement as part of the repatriation project of the 1990s, for various reasons wanted to stay in Ukraine, but the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster affected their health. Therefore, we sought an alternative way to improve their health status and at the same time promote contact with their ancestors' homeland. After consulting with many of the representatives of the authorities at that time, we came up with the project of health activities. There were more ethnic Czechs living in Ukraine at that time than today, so from 1991 to 1993 alone, we organized thirteen camps."
The camps are held in ecologically clean places; recently, preference has been given to the protected area of Jeseníky, which has the cleanest air not only in the Czech Republic but also in all of Central Europe. Tourists like to visit the local castles or come to see the oldest narrow-gauge railway in Central Europe. The camp is located a few kilometers from the spa town of Karlova Studánka, in Oskava-Václavov. This year, 56 children came from Ukraine. They are accompanied by five adults.
"Within the 25-year tradition of the camps, continuity of generations is evident," says Tomáš Lukavský. "Among the counselors who came with the children, there are already those who attended the first health camps as children. This project has touched two generations."
A living example of such continuity is the girl Olya, who got to know the Czech Republic during repeated health camps as a child. Today, a native of Ukraine with Czech roots, she teaches children Czech at the camp.
"I came from Vinnytsia, which is central Ukraine. We have had a cultural and educational society called 'Hollander Czechs' there for a long time. We sing, dance, and get acquainted with Czech culture. My grandmother and mother are Czech by origin, they have documents confirming that. But in my documents, I list Ukrainian nationality. My mother and grandmother speak Czech, and my father is Ukrainian, and although I understand Czech, I speak little Czech at home. I have been to the Czech Republic many times – we also go with a dance ensemble to the ethnic festival in Prague. And now at the camp, I have an interesting role, as I came here as a teacher."
"Recently, as the older generation decreases, active knowledge of the Czech language is declining," notes Tomáš Lukavský. "However, on the other hand, it must be said that children who come to the camp repeatedly show a higher level of knowledge, not only in language but also in history and culture, than children who come here for the first time."
In addition to learning Czech and local history, the children at the camp take part in various competitions and games, as well as go on excursions and visit nearby attractions.