According to the Catholic Bishop of Odessa-Simferopol, Mons. Jacek Pyl, the increase in the number of families in Crimea that are living below the poverty line has been particularly steep. Many families cannot afford to go on holiday. As soon as school closes for the holidays, many children have to spend their time on the streets while their parents earn a living.

 “The risk of becoming addicted to computers, the Internet, drugs or alcohol is particularly high for children and adolescents who spend their holidays on the streets, bored,” explained the Bishop, who is grateful that ACN supported two holiday camps held in Crimea with the theme “Holidays with God”. These ACN projects are offered to young people irrespective of their religion and gives them something meaningful to do during the holidays.

One of the participants, Bogdan Loginov, described the time he spent at the holiday camp: “We learned a lot of new things in catechesis during the holiday camp. It was never boring and I met a lot of new friends. If it hadn’t been for the camp, this summer would have gone by without anything meaningful happening. I am hoping that it will be held again next year.”

“This is the age at which many young people have a lot of unanswered questions: how should I live, who do I want to be and what should I live for? These summer camps are not just about recuperation, but also about the future of the country and the Church, because it is very important to communicate and live Christian values,” Bishop Pyl said.