Zwickau welcomes Ukrainian children: holiday leisure full of hope!

Zwickau welcomes Ukrainian children: holiday leisure full of hope!

In Zwickau, today, July 20, 2025, the city started a very special holiday camp for children and young people from the Ukrainian twin city of Volodymyr. The 27 participants aged 12 to 17 will be accommodated in a school camp in the picturesque Vogtland. This holiday activity not only offers a welcome change, but is also important support for children, some of whom have lost their parents in the war. The city of Zwickau shows a big heart for young people in difficult life situations. Loud Radio Zwickau This is the third holiday camp of its kind, which is being organized from July 20th to 27th.

The group is made up of children whose parents are currently deployed or have died, and other young people from an art school. They are accompanied by three teachers and two drivers to ensure that all activities are organized and supervised. The week's program is varied: In addition to sports activities and creative courses, the plan includes trips to Schneeberg, Dresden and the Plohn amusement park. A highlight of the week will be a visit to the Zwickau Listening Museum on Wednesday, July 23rd, where the children will gain fascinating insights into automobile history. Mayor Constanze Arndt will welcome the children in the town hall and present a large-format work of art, which underlines the importance of art in times of crisis.

A strong sign of solidarity

With this measure, the city of Zwickau has sent a signal of solidarity. The organization and financing is partly provided by the Ukraine donation account, which can be used to cover the costs of accommodation and activities for the children. Such holiday camps are not only a welcome escape from the dreary everyday life, they also offer space to process the children's traumatic experiences.

Similar initiatives have been carried out so far in 2023 and 2024 and have received a lot of positive feedback. The city plans to continue to offer such leisure opportunities for children from crisis areas in the future and thus make a valuable contribution to stabilizing the living situation of these young people.

Recovery for displaced people

The Workers' Samaritan Association (ASB) runs similar programs for displaced people, such as recreational camps for children in the Carpathian region, who often come from economically disadvantaged families or have lost their parents in the war. These activities include various workshops and recreational activities that are intended to help children find their way back to everyday life and deal with their experiences better. Stina Steingraeber from ASB emphasizes the importance of such summer leisure activities for emotional processing and the creation of new, positive memories. The program is complemented by the support of Ukrainian volunteers who also make an important contribution to helping the affected families.

Overall, it shows that the holiday camp in Zwickau is a valuable initiative to give children hope and joy in a difficult time. Thanks to the joint efforts, the young people from Volodymyr are offered a piece of normality and carefreeness that they urgently need.