Feeling the heat during Konotop summer camp

KONOTOP, UKRAINE - As our Mercy Projects team from the UK stepped off our plane at Kiev airport July 30, we were hit by a blast of intense heat, as Ukraine was experiencing the hottest summer for decades, with temperatures over 100F most days. 

The next day we boarded a train from Kiev to Konotop, headed for the Hearts of Love Centre. This is where we’d be running a summer camp during the first of August, for special needs and at risk children for the third year in a row as part of the charity I’m the UK Director for Mercy Projects International.  The journey was challenging to say the least trying to squeeze our heavy luggage, full of resources and toys for the children, into a packed carriage with no air conditioning.  

But when we finally arrived in Konotop we knew the journey had been worthwhile as we were met by the amazing team who run the Hearts of Love Centre.  For some of us who’d been before this was a very special reunion with the centre’s staff particularly their director Lena Yushenko, who we’ve formed a close bond with over the years. 

Arriving at the centre our team of 12 packed into our bedrooms which would be our home and base for the summer camp for the next week and that evening we were relieved to unpack all our heavy bags full of craft materials, special sensory toys and sports equipment in preparation for the camp. 

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