RegisterRegisterPtakha Camp is a place of recovery for children and mothers from frontline territories who live with the traces of war — physical and psychological, in constant fear and stress.
They are the future of Ukraine and its European development.
Here families receive safe recovery, support and the opportunity to build their future and be with family in safety.
Support us with your contribution
Since 2022, the NGO "Podolian Agency for Regional Development" has been running the family recovery camp «Ptakha Camp» for mothers and children from frontline and de-occupied territories of Ukraine. It is located in the village of Severynivka, Vinnytsia region.
Over four seasons, 3,367 mothers and children have taken part in the camp's recovery programme free of charge. Sixty-five charity sessions have been held for families from Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
The programme includes psychological recovery, creative workshops, sports, kayaking, yoga, campfire evenings and «Resilience Plans» — individual steps towards inner strength. All of this creates a safe space for rest, recharge and recovery.
The camp's uniqueness lies in the possibility for children and mothers to stay together — this is especially important for younger children. When a mother receives support, the child stabilises faster.
3367
children and mothers welcomed over the years
In 2025, the Ptakha Camp season ran for 132 days non-stop. 1,267 children and mothers were able to rest, recover and feel supported.
Each camp session is an opportunity for family recovery: mothers gain resource and resilience, while children regain a sense of safety and childhood. Here, eyes filled with anxiety and exhaustion come alive again with light.
Last year, over 5,000 mothers and children from frontline territories applied to Ptakha Camp. But over 3,000 families remained on the waiting list.
We want to say «no» less often to those who have experienced loss, fear and trauma. So we are preparing a new season and expanding the camp to welcome more families.
This requires UAH 3.4 million — for safe infrastructure (shelters, power and sanitation). Every donation is a chance for a family to feel calm, recover and believe in the future again. By supporting the camp, you support Ukrainian children and mothers.
Ukraine is raising a generation of children with chronic traumatic experience — failing to help them now means losing the chance for rehabilitation.
At the camp, all participants are engaged in different activities at once, according to age and needs. While mothers work with psychologists in «women's circles», younger children take part in team games, and teenagers work with mentors and psychologists on development, self-awareness and support. This «parallel format» gives everyone their own space for growth and recovery.
Over 500 mothers (30% of all camp participants) sought further psychological support after the programme and continued working with psychologists. This is women's conscious choice to stay resourced and care for themselves and their children.
Participation in Ptakha Camp is completely free for mothers and children. The camp runs only thanks to the support of donors, partners and people who care.
Ptakha Camp is growing and filling with new meaning.
The camp hosted a stone carving plein air: four artists from Vinnytsia and Lviv regions (Yuriy Kafarskyi, Andriy Buhai, Ivan Demkiv, Severyn Studnytskyi) worked on unique pieces. Soon the camp grounds will feature a golden nightingale, a wise owl, a majestic swan and a two-metre bird sculpture by Yuriy Kafarskyi.
The camp has a tent format but is transitioning into a sustainable, eco-friendly space. In partnership with Rebuild Ukraine Green (Denmark) and Ukrainian volunteers, we are building Tiny House eco-cabins from clay, wood and straw. Two are already up, the third is in progress. They will be a cosy alternative to tents and allow us to host more families.
The international BUDMO team is implementing the Common Ground project — a space for learning, therapy and connection with nature. A «bird-watching cabin» is being created: participants will be able to observe birds, take part in nature therapy sessions and creative activities. Birdwatching is increasingly used worldwide as a form of therapy and recovery; at Ptakha Camp, mothers and children come from regions where birdsong is drowned out by explosions — here they can hear living nature again.
The analogy between people who lost their homes and birds who lost their nests is very apt; here they seem to feel their wings again. The camp is located near the Riv River — an area that is part of the nature reserve fund and an extension of the ornithological reserve «Barsky». Over 60 species of birds live here. Plans include a bird trail (several biotopes), and the bird-watching house will be part of it; for birdwatchers and ornithologists it is a real «hotspot».
We have dozens of heartfelt reviews about how Ptakha Camp became a «week without war», a place of peace, recovery and hope for children and mothers.
How the camp changes lives — stories of mothers and children who found in Ptakha Camp a space for recovery and hope.
Ptakha Camp is a space for active recreation, psychological recovery and physical activity. We offer:
Creative workshops and team games in the fresh air; children develop communication without gadgets.
Kayaking on the Riv River amid the nature of the ornithological reserve — active recreation and getting to know the birds.
Bicycle hire for those who love to explore the surrounding nature on two wheels.
A gentle practice that helps release tension, restore energy, calm the mind and reconnect with your body.
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