A.O. Galata spotted a situation among the youth of Moldova: from an early age, children are exposed to avalanches of information and science education is less and less oriented towards the return to nature. Galata feels that children are beings who feel the need for dynamic and creative activities, which would support and help them to discover their inner resources, to develop their own ways of finding solutions to the problems they face or may encounter in their existence. The existence of COVD-19 has only exacerbated this concern.
Their goal for this project was to engage with children that have been isolated by the pandemic and by modern technology by involving them in outdoor activities to increase their level of adaptability to different unique environments. In addition, they want to strengthen children’s immunity and physical training through the exercises they will do and the environment in which they will spend their time.
Through our funding, AO Galata was able to host sixteen camping excursions which served around 1200 youth participants. They participated in activities such as hiking, kayaking, cooking and canoeing with minimal exposure to technology. Galata plans on continuing with these activities and explore new ways to engage youth in nature.
In some places near the river there is mud. And in some places the mud is very deep. One child jumped in the mud and it was so deep that it went to their waste. When the child was asked ‘Why did you jump in’?, the child said ‘I didn’t know this is what mud […]
We had a summer shower, and had two large bottles of water, and one kid joked that one was for hot and the other was for cold. But when the child tested his theory he found out the truth 🙂
Kayaking is for 2-3 people maximum. The kids were very excited to learn how to do this. Instead of waiting for another kayak, 10 children hopped on one. They had to paddle with their hands.
After the children came home, she woke up her parents and called them to breakfast. She made porridge for them, which is what they prepared at the camp. The parents filmed these moments.