For orphans in Moldova, summer camps are about more than arts and crafts. With schools and orphanages closed during the summer, and with many orphans and destitute children having no permanent homes and may live on the streets, summer camps fill the need for housing and two nutritious meals a day.
These summer camps enable our volunteers to reach hundreds of orphans, foster and destitute children with our message about God's love and plans for their lives through Bible study, one-on-one spiritual counseling, and religious magazines. We stress building self-esteem, the value of education and awareness of the frightening realties of human and sex trafficking.
Moldova Mission Network's partner Save the Orphans will work with local churches in July and August to sponsor camps in the villages of Soldanesti, Chisinau, Cricova, Cotiujeni, Glinjeni, Samascani, and Oliscani. The first camps start mid-July. It is our goal to reach as many children and teenagers as possible. These camps provide the children wholesome meals, along with activities including hiking, soccer, volleyball, team building competitions and archery.
Camps offer Bible study sessions. In this more open setting, the children feel they can more freely communicate. Discussions focus on overcoming obstacles and past abuse they have suffered, and building their relationships with God.
The campers form teams which are responsible for preparing evening presentations to the whole camp. The children are encouraged to act in skits, lead group games and even learn songs in English, building teamwork, self-esteem and confidence among the participants. Throughout all of these activities, our goal is for orphans to feel loved and appreciated. At the conclusion of the programs, participants receive a diploma and a tee shirt with the inscription: "You are beautiful" “God loves you.”
Recently Save the Orphans partnered with Youth for Christ Volunteers to visit the orphans at the well-known Orphanage in Chișinău (Gymnasium Internat #3) Our local volunteer director Diana Todica with her team shared lessons on education, faith, songs, games and anti-trafficking education. We purchased much needed clothing, fresh fruits, treats and bible study materials for the orphans.
This Summer Save the Orphans volunteers will again provide essential food staples to destitute families in Cricova and Soldanesti villages who are caring for orphans and foster children. We provide 3 large food bags for families with 7 to 13 children, and two bags for smaller families caring for 4-8 children.
Each large food bag costs $50.00, and with the war in Ukraine, the cost of food has nearly doubled. A gift of $150.00 feeds a family with 7 to 13 orphan and fostered children. A gift of $100.00 feeds a family with 4 to 8 orphan and foster children.
A gift of $200 will sponsor five children for summer camp. We appreciate your support to provide food staples for as many foster families as possible. Thank you for providing these impoverished children the rare opportunity to attend a Christian summer camp.
On behalf of Moldova Mission Network and Save the Orphans, thank you in advance for your generosity. If you want to contribute in general for the activities discussed here, simply write "Orphans" in the dialog box: "Marriage, Education, Orphans, Ukraine?" you'll see when making an online donation. If you want to support the camps specifically, write "Orphans-camps" in the dialog box or "Orphans-food" if you want to donate specifically for food parcels. Check donations may be sent to: Moldova Mission Network, 4919 43rd Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20026 (note any specific designation in the memo line).
For information on STO's past work with camps and orphans, see the Orphans section of the Moldova Mission Network site.
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