Changing lives for good and forever through camps

Camps

Christian camps are a real blessing to young people facing challenges and difficulties we can scarcely imagine. They take place year after year thanks to the support of people like you.

Good food, fresh air and exercise, motivation to study, improved social skills – these are all great outcomes. The most significant outcome of all is when a young person comes to know and trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

Opportunities to be children

Veronica

Veronica’s story

Veronica’s family have moved home six times in the past ten years. When you are only 12 years old, that means you have been moving around all your life. Displaced from their original home in eastern Ukraine as far back as 2014, they were living in Kharkiv when full-scale war broke out in 2022.

“That city became a target for the Russians”, says Tanya Shpygunokva who has been helping the family. “Veronica spent most of her time in the bomb shelter hiding from rockets and was unable to play with her friends, go to school, or sleep in peace”.

Now Veronica, with her mother and brother, have found a place of relative safety in Irpin, north west of Kyiv, while her father helps to evacuate people from frontline areas.

“This summer we invited Veronica to our children’s camp and she had the best time of her life”, Tanya says. “She participated in all the activities and made new friends. She heard Bible stories for the very first time and talked about God with the campers and leaders.

“Although the war continues and the children face many challenges and worries they learn that God is always near and will never leave them”.

Veronica and her mum have become part of a church in Irpin. Tanya who works for Serve Now says, “We are so grateful to Blythswood for supporting people like Veronica and her family and causing a miracle in their lives.

Patric

Patric's story

Patric absolutely loved his time at camp. Through Blythswood’s camp appeal you gave him something to remember.

For an eight-year-old being brought up by his grandparents in a low-income community in western Romania it was a life-changing experience.

“Patric enjoyed every moment of it”, says Adrian Popa who leads Talita Kum, Blythswood’s after-school project in Jimbolia. “He was the youngest and the smallest to complete the course at the adventure park.

“And he’s still singing the song, in English and complete with actions, which the volunteer group from Scotland taught him – Our God is a great big God”.

Adrian says that during his first year at Talita Kum, Patric has never missed a day. “He has made great progress in reading, writing and counting”.

“He was on the list for the camp because of his excellent attendance. For children like him, a week at camp gives them new experiences and an awareness of life beyond their own town, which they would not otherwise have had”.

Patric

Madalina and Adina’s story

The sisters from Moldova are cared for by their grandmother. Moldova has many children who don’t see their parents often. It’s expensive to come back from central Europe where many of the mums and dads have gone to work, leaving children with grandparents. Finding work in Moldova is very difficult.

The girls mum has gone to France and dad has a drinking problem so Grandmother has to look after them.

At camp, the girls enjoy company of their own age, participate in the fun and learn about Jesus. Sometimes there’s a maternal figure among the leaders that they can get alongside and talk to. Madalina and Adina needed that connection and found it at camp.

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Change lives for good through every gift in our catalogue

Change lives for good through every gift in our catalogue

Change lives for good through every gift in our catalogue

Featured projects

Showcasing some of the work we do

APPEAL

Shoe Box Appeal

Receiving the gift of a small box packed with presents brings such joy; we thank you for the 82,697 shoeboxes you generously donated in 2025. Since 1993, 2,907,984 shoeboxes have been sent. Can you help us get to 3,000,000 and help us reach more people affected by poverty, trauma and exploitation?

EUROPE

Talita Kum

When schools close at midday, many children and young people have to fend for themselves. Talita Kum provides an after-school programme for children from some of the poorest households in Romania.

The children receive clothing, showers, nourishing meals and help with their homework, helping to change their longer-term futures for good.

EUROPE

Daniel Centre

Young people leaving state care in Romania often end up living on the streets. Growing up, they receive little education and struggle to find work or even a home.

The Daniel Centre provides skills and support to offer them hope and future.