At YMCA Greenhill, a very special gathering recently took place. Through ‘Camp Donard’—a dedicated initiative under YMCA Europe’s Roots for Peace project—a group of young people from Newcastle welcomed nine participants from YMCAs across Ukraine for a transformational week in County Down.

Designed around the theme “so you are not alone,” the camp aimed to offer young Ukrainians a safe haven, a chance to escape the harsh realities of the ongoing war, and an opportunity to build friendships that bridge borders.

Building Connections Beyond Borders

The visiting group—representing local YMCAs in Odesa, Kyiv, Ternopil, Lviv, Nyzhne Selyshche-Khust, Boyarka, and Kropyvnytskyi—travelled for two days across Ukraine into Poland before flying into Dublin. Among them was Kamila Olzarenko from Izium, a region heavily affected by occupation, who now stays at YMCA Kremenchuk.

Throughout the week, the two groups took part in shared adventures, including climbing Slieve Donard, values-based workshops, visiting the Ulster Museum in Belfast, a vibrant ‘Colourfest’ event, and canoeing on the Quoile.

Mariana, President of YMCA Ternopil and leader of the Ukrainian delegation, highlighted the deep impact of these shared moments: “We have discovered that a true community has no borders — even if we had to cross a few to get here. Cultural exchange is the shortest path to mutual understanding… The participants felt truly safe here. Beyond language barriers, we broke through obstacles to communication, confidence, and personal connection.”

Solace, Solidarity, and Shared Culture

While many international group visits to Greenhill include educational sessions on Northern Ireland’s history and the Troubles, team leaders took a different approach for this group.

Victoria Fyfe, Programme and Development Manager at Greenhill YMCA, explained: Focusing on Peace: “It has been about exploring how beautiful County Down is, about exploring what Greenhill does and how it can be used for learning and development, and connecting with other people.”

Showing Solidarity: “There are 17 YMCAs in Ukraine that are now behind Russian lines that have been completely cut off since the war began. The message is that there is still support from the wider YMCA family.”

Shared Respect: Each morning after breakfast, both groups observed a minute’s silence—a daily practice in Ukraine to remember those affected by the war.

One of the most poignant moments of the week came during a cultural evening featuring Irish dancers from Kilkeel and the Schomberg Ulster-Scots Society. A local bagpiper present happened to know the Ukrainian national anthem. Following a minute’s silence, he played the anthem for the group, creating a deeply moving moment of shared empathy.

A Long-Lasting Legacy

For the facilitators—including Diane Melnik, a former Greenhill volunteer who flew 10 hours from California to serve as a bilingual translator—the week was unforgettable.

Crucially, the benefit of the camp extends far beyond a single week in Northern Ireland. Youth leaders from Ukraine are returning home equipped with new interactive trust-building methodologies and educational tools to support volunteers and students in their local communities.

A Moment of Hope: Ukrainian Siblings Reunited

The week also brought an unexpected moment of joy. One of the Ukrainian participants, Sasha, arrived at Greenhill to find his brother, Nazar Linchuk, waiting to surprise him alongside his girlfriend. Nazar, who lives near Sligo, had not seen his brother since the war began in 2022. Their emotional reunion brought immense warmth to the entire camp.

Article adapted from original reporting by Ronan Scott for the Mourne Observer. Used with permission.