WORLD

Ukrainian scouts in Italy for summer camp: fraternity and new beginnings

An Italian Catholic scout group hosts teenagers from Ukraine for a week of relaxation and friendship, an opportunity to forget, for a while, the pressures of war.

By Antonella Palermo

A week-long camp in the mountains of Abruzzo, southern Italy, leaving the sounds of war far behind.

This was the experience of a group of scouts, both Ukrainians and Italians.

Hospitality and friendship

"They showed us that nothing is impossible."

That’s according to scout leader Stefania Donati, who found herself risking the cancelation of her summer camp due to a lack of sign-ups. So she took advantage of an initiative organised by the Italian Scout Network, which twins Italian scouting groups with Ukrainian ones.

Born out of necessity, the move turned out to be an extraordinary opportunity for exchange.

Nine Ukrainian girls, including seven aged 11 to 15 and two 12-year-old children, plus a chaperone. A long bus trip from Ternopil, in western Ukraine, with a 13-hour stop at the Hungarian border. Then, at night arriving in Rome, hosted by a parish, before departing for Lake Scanno, one of Abruzzo's natural gems.

The scouts hosted by a local parish

Exchange and competition

Construction competitions, volleyball, cooking and other small activities. This is how the Ukrainian youth spent these days of relaxation.

"Every day was enriching. From the more practical things to the more human aspects of sharing and reflection," Stefania says. "They never complain, always helpful and cheerful. It made a big impression on us to see them carefree. We feel we have learned a lot from their discipline. Among other things, it’s awakened healthy competition, which had perhaps weakened a bit, in our kids. A new stimulus, basically. "

And that's no small thing. The scout leader says that they have instilled courage with their perseverance and determination. "They showed us that nothing is impossible."

The scouting spirit

Forgetting the war, for a while

Valentina, the Ukrainian scout leader, says that "All the Italians were really friendly and helpful.”

Listen to Valentina, the Ukrainian scout leader

“It was a good sharing experience. Sometimes we learned something from them and sometimes they learned something from us. The people in the villages were really nice, offering us food. And most of all we really enjoyed your nature, your mountains. This trip for us was about fraternity and friendship," she says. "We were also able to forget the war for a while. It was a new beginning for us. We felt safe here."