Young People on the Move: a sports and leisure event took place at the ‘Oikos’ camp

On 13 August 2026, in the Stebnyk area of the Chernivtsi region, at the ‘Oikos’ camp run by Chernivtsi City Council, a sports and leisure event was held for young people staying at the camp.

The event was organised by the NGO “YOUTH. SCIENCE. SPORT. HEALTHY MOVEMENT OF UKRAINE” in collaboration with the Department of Social Policy of the Chernivtsi City Council, the Department of Family and Youth Affairs of the Chernivtsi City Council, and the administration of the “Oikos” camp.

The aim of the event was to increase the level of physical activity among young people, promote sport, orienteering, recreational and health-enhancing activities and a healthy lifestyle, as well as to foster patriotic education and the harmonious development of the younger generation.

The programme began with a formal opening ceremony, during which the National Anthem of Ukraine was played. The young people, organisers and partners joined in singing it, creating a special atmosphere of unity, solidarity and respect for national values.

The chairman of the NGO “YOUTH. SCIENCE. SPORT. HEALTHY MOVEMENT OF UKRAINE”, Yaroslav Galan, PhD in Physical Education and Sport and Associate Professor. He congratulated the participants on International Youth Day, wishing them good health, boundless energy, new achievements, self-confidence and a peaceful future.

Yaroslav Galan noted that active young people are the driving force behind positive change and Ukraine’s future. He emphasised the importance of engaging the younger generation in regular physical activity, promoting sport, fostering a healthy lifestyle, instilling a sense of patriotism, and upholding the values of active and responsible citizenship.

The young people staying at the ‘Oikos’ camp actively took part in all stages of the programme. The participants enthusiastically completed the sporting challenges, supported one another and demonstrated team spirit, perseverance and a drive to achieve new goals. The event provided the young people with positive emotions, valuable experience, the opportunity to showcase their abilities and spend their time meaningfully in a friendly atmosphere.

Following the official opening, the camp’s physical education instructor Ilya Dorosh led an energetic warm-up session, in which all participants took part. This helped the young people prepare for the physical activities to follow, get into the right frame of mind for active participation, and boost their energy and spirits.

The main part of the programme brought together a variety of sporting, training and recreational activities. Participants took part in team relays, sports games and orienteering tasks. Completing the exercises required not only speed, agility and stamina, but also the ability to work as a team, support one another and achieve the set goals together.

Of particular interest was the badminton masterclass. During the practical session, the young people learnt the basics and rules of the game, improved their coordination and tried to put their newly acquired skills into practice.

The combination of warm-up exercises, sports games, relays, orienteering and health-promoting activities helped to develop physical abilities, communication skills and teamwork. At the same time, the programme helped participants realise the importance of regular physical activity for maintaining good health and personal development.

Olga Shchur, a member of the civil society organisation’s team, played an active role in organising and running the event, helping to coordinate activities and support participants throughout the programme.

At the end of the event, the young people received commemorative T-shirts and medals. These have become a symbol of activity, perseverance, team spirit and the desire to lead a healthy lifestyle.

We would like to express our special thanks to the camp director, Vasyl Bohdanyuk, and the entire “Oikos” administration for their hospitality, organisational support and for creating safe and comfortable conditions for the event.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Department of Social Policy of Chernivtsi City Council, the Department of Family and Youth Affairs of Chernivtsi City Council, the camp administration, the organisers and the participants for their fruitful cooperation, initiative and active involvement.

Holding such events helps to promote sport and physical activity, strengthen the physical and mental well-being of young people, foster team spirit, nurture a sense of patriotism and reinforce national values.

The event was held as part of a project supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Carpathian Foundation – Hungary and the Carpathian Foundation – Ukraine.