Campaign Title
Weekend Peace Spaces for Refugee Children in Vilnius
What we want to do
We want to launch a Weekend Peace Camp — a continuous series of “peace spaces” every weekend for Belarusian refugee children and their peers from Ukraine, Russia, and Lithuania.
As soon as the fundraising goal is reached, we will start immediately and run the programme for one full month (four weekends). If we raise more, we will simply extend it month by month, keeping the same group of children and activities to ensure stability and long-term healing.
These children have lived through fear, loss, and displacement. Many were forced to flee Belarus with their parents at night, leaving behind homes, toys, and friends. In Lithuanian schools, they are often bullied for their accent or nationality. Their parents struggle to survive. Weekends are long, lonely, and anxious.
The Weekend Peace Camp gives them something completely different:
a safe, creative, nonviolent space where they can play, create, and connect across borders.
Format
- Structure: Four weekends per month (Friday–Sunday)
- Schedule: Fridays 15:00–19:00; Saturdays & Sundays 10:00–21:00
- Place: Our House space in Vilnius
- Group: 30 children (Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania), stable group
- Team: crisis psychologist, two art educators, volunteers, and a professional storyteller
- Activities: cooperative games, art workshops, theatre, anti-bullying skills, creative peace-building projects
Why it matters
Many children in exile experience trauma, bullying, and constant stress. Schools rarely provide structured peace education or trauma-informed support. The Weekend Peace Camp becomes the only safe place where they can breathe, feel safe, and remember that childhood is still possible.
What the children gain
- Reduced fear and anxiety
- New friendships across “enemy lines”
- Skills in peaceful communication and conflict resolution
- Confidence and belonging
Budget goal: €2,150 (per month)
Monthly cost breakdown:
- Rent and utilities for the Our House hall: €500
- Two coordinators (programme, logistics, safety): €450 × 3 = €1350
- Art materials and stationery: €200
- Transport (fuel, pickups, and drop-offs for children from remote areas): €100
Total: €1,700 per month
If we raise more
Every additional €1,700 allows us to continue for another month — keeping the same group of children, preserving trust, and deepening the effects.
Alternatively, every €55 makes it possible for one additional child to join the group.
The Weekend Peace Camp is our next step: turning weekends into small islands of safety and hope — spaces where children can laugh, create, and heal together.
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