More than five million people have fled Ukraine in search of safety across borders. Yet thousands of children have remained — among the ruins, under the wail of sirens, and in the silence broken by fear and tears. It was to these children that our Good Samaritans went, responding to the invitation of Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, Ordinary of the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr. In collaboration with Salesian priests from Krakow and teachers from Zhytomyr, the Good Samaritan Foundation helped organize and sponsor a summer camp for 120 children. It was a precious time — a moment to laugh, play, pray, and simply be children again.
“The children of war teach us courage. Their smiles among the ruins are nothing short of a miracle.”
The summer camp aimed to offer a respite from the hardships of war, allowing the children to experience joy, learning, and camaraderie. Through various activities and programs, we focused on their emotional well-being, education, and personal development, fostering a sense of normalcy and hope.
It was a precious time — a moment to laugh, play, pray, and simply be children again.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, we were able to create recreational, educational, artistic, and sports activities that nurtured the children’s talents and helped them regain emotional balance.
For many, this was the only glimpse of summer they had — a small refuge of joy in the shadow of war.
Our volunteers – the Good Samaritans – served alongside the children, bringing comfort, laughter, and hope. They worked hand in hand with local families and teachers, showing through shared prayer and presence that no one is alone, even in the darkest times.
Each day brought a spark of hope — yet fear was never far away.
Sometimes playtime was interrupted by the sound of air raid sirens, and everyone would rush to the shelter. Some children trembled and cried, remembering rockets falling and the rubble that buried their homes and schools.
In those moments, prayer became a shield, and the words of the Divine Mercy Chaplet a source of peace and strength.
At the Hour of Mercy, children of all faiths prayed together for Ukraine, entrusting their country to God’s mercy before an image of the Divine Mercy Jesus — blessed just days earlier at the Sanctuary in Łagiewniki and brought to Ukraine by our Good Samaritans.
In Kyiv, Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi consecrated the entire nation to God’s Mercy, praying before the same image — carried to the capital by volunteer Małgorzata Kaleta, founder of the Foundation, and Father Karol.
In that symbolic moment — as smoke and fear still hung over the city — a spark of hope was lit.
On Malgorzta journey back from Ukraine, she shared:
“I left behind friends who have nowhere to return.
I come home to safety, yet my heart is heavy with tears. From those who have lost so much, I received an ocean of kindness and love.
At a gas station, an elderly man approached me, kissed my hand, and said,
‘Thanks to people like you who stand with us, we have the strength to keep fighting.’
In that moment, I understood how much our presence matters — simply being there.”
‘Thanks to people like you who stand with us, we have the strength to keep fighting.’
