From 2nd to 5th of June, hundreds of foreign volunteers from the first wave of GoCamp will gather in Ukraine near Kyiv to teach English, French and German to thousands of children. The training will take place in the cultural exchange format with the implementation of interactive educational methods.
The event started with speeches by GoGlobal initiators, ambassadors of foreign states, representatives of the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Education and Science. Thanks to the synergy of all partners, GoCamp became the largest volunteering programme in Eastern Europe. The opening ceremony was followed by an international picnic, with the presentation of international cuisines of different countries, as well as flags and attributes.
We are extremely proud of the GoCamp community because a large percentage of volunteers from all over the world who started with us are returning to continue their support for the project. Even those who are not able to come to Ukraine this year, support Ukraine and strive to do their best to keep in touch with schools and children. These stories inspire and motivate us to keep going. This year we formed an association of graduates of the project, which will become cultural ambassadors of Ukraine in 53 countries of the world,
– says Mustafa Nayyem, co-founder of the Global Office, MP
The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Ukraine.
Deputy Minister Oleksandr Yarema said: In two years, GoCamp not only became the largest educational volunteering project in Ukraine, but in Eastern Europe. Such projects are the reason that our country develops and becomes more exceptive of changes which moves it closer to Europe. What is especially important for me is that the young generation gets more opportunities for development and expanding their horizons about the surrounding world.
Last year, Ambassador of Great Britain to Ukraine Judith Gough experienced what it’s like to be a GoCamp volunteer. She volunteered for children from Donetsk and Luhansk districts. The ambassador became the first foreign diplomat to volunteer for GoCamp and called on representatives of other embassies to support the project. This year, 9 ambassadors of foreign states will work in Ukrainian schools as volunteers, inspiring students not only to study foreign languages but to realize their own dreams and ideas.
It was a great pleasure and privilege for me to participate in last year’s GoCamp East. With efforts of the British Council in Ukraine and the Global Office, we managed to bring several hundred students from schools in the East of Ukraine to Kyiv to give them unforgettable two weeks of communication with foreign volunteers. It is very important for children in conflict zones to feel as they are a part of Ukraine and the world as a whole. GoCamps have helped them expand their horizons, make new friends and improve their language skills,
– said Judith Gough, Ambassador of Great Britain in Ukraine.
Ambassadors are not the only influential people who joined the project, leaders of Ukrainian and international companies joined the volunteering movement. In particular, Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said:
English is the language of business that is spoken by the whole world. I am pleased to help promote English among Ukrainian youth, a new generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Kyivstar is a long time supporter of the project, providing all volunteers with reliable communication on the territory of Ukraine, but this year Kyivstar team also initiated in development of educational methodologies in the field of Entrepreneurship, and Petro Chernyshov, the company’s director, became one of the GoCamp volunteers.
Is there a future for a young specialist who does not know English? Of course there Is, but this future is very sad, – says Peter Chernyshov, executive director of Kyivstar.
– I am absolutely convinced that it is necessary to invest in the education of both our own and the future generation in order to develop ourselves, our family and our country. And Go Camp is a great example to follow.
GoCamp language camp program is the start of an educational and cultural revolution in Ukraine, engaging foreigners from all over the world as well as Ukrainian teachers.
We understand that teachers play a vital role in development of worldview and thinking of their students. Thanks to our partners we held special trainings for 1190 foreign language teachers in the past 3 years. With our help and guidance they already implemented the latest teaching methods in their work! We plan to do even more work with schools in the future to increase the number of GoCamp teachers ,
– said Oksana Nechyporenko, Director of Global Office.
After obtaining necessary information from our training, volunteers will go to 611 schools throughout Ukraine, where Ukrainian students are already waiting for them.
Many thanks to all our partners! We couldn’t do it without your support!
