Wognik 06 or how to move from Artemowsk to Paraskoveyvka

How do you describe a very special workcamp under very changing and challenging conditions?

You give word to the people that participated in it.

Jasmin

It could have been easy, probably too easy. A workcamp in the children’s summer camp “Wognik” in Artemowsk with 200 children that have got learning disabilities and come from difficult families. Eight motivated volunteers (including Lena and me as camp leader).

But after running for certificates (medical ones) and receiving them also, the state and the health ministry of Artemowsk told us that we are not allowed to work in Wognik. Did I forget to say that before we cooked delicious food in our kitchen, went swimming and going for a walk in Artemowsk and that the group atmosphere was very relaxed and motivated? We had to move netherless on the search for another workcamp. Thanks Artemowskian authorities.

Kuba

Of course, we were not very happy with these changes, but I liked the work we did in Paraskaveyvka (the village where we moved to). We helped another workcamp with renovation the school building and the yard of a boarding school/ orphanage. That meant wallpaper work, cleaning and cutting much, much grass in the yard and on the football field. It was quite hard physical work, but you could see changes. I was the one who started sleeping on the roof of the school building and that together with the local village disco and the football games were highlights of the work camp.

But not to be too positive: the food was not good and not enough for a sportsman like me. I spend a big amount of money for food from the local shop. And we had a nice visit of a human rights workcamp with a nice girl from Moldova.

Jess

We are talking about food? Yes, that is a good negative topic. I found quite many companions that shared with me my daily amount of muesli. There were also some other organizational problems (cancellation), but the group atmosphere was very good and funny, especially with Nigel, my North Irish brother in mind.

Nigel

Brother? What do you mean? We are just both complaining in public areas, because this is the only way to get something in Great Britain. And our humor is similar. But that is all. Ok, similar work: social worker and teacher. And I did not complain about the local pub, really nice people and beer.

Chris

Local beer? They even had “Baltika”. I agree with Nigel about the character of the people, but it was sometimes better to hide my American citizenship, and become Canadian. Perhaps my red hair showed to open that I am foreigner and therefore I had to tell unknown people not to get to near to my money. I liked the football a lot and the conversations and the jokes and joking.

Michaila

I was one of the non- Russian speakers, but the children and local people understood Slovenian well and I enjoyed playing with them very much and was at the end almost fluent in Russian. Together with Chris and Jasmin I was cutting the grass on the football field and felt very rural and like in the past, but good. Ah and the local children that came to the school everyday! It was very funny with them and they were very interested in us.

Patricia

I was photographing many many many things and lost my heart to all of the children there and the lake we were swimming in and the bonfires we made with the children.