Therapeutic evenings near Dikan’ka village
Partnership of the Association “Light of Hope” and ANTIAIDS Foundation allowed to significantly improving quality of life in the camp and its capacity to host guests. One can now see new modern tents, as well as tourist and household equipment. This allowed allocating more time to therapeutic programmes rather than household issues.
The main aim of the camp is to build capacity and raise motivation of specialists and volunteers of HIV-service organizations and harm reduction programmes, as well as motivation of people who quitted using drugs. In 2005 the number of participants increased to 35 people.
2005 Programme is aimed at creation of a therapeutic community, at building capacity of participants and it is based on the Day Top model. The Programme includes conducting therapeutic groups based on anonymous community model, different trainings, games and contests. Each group of trainees is small, each having a leader who conducts therapeutic and training programmes. Every morning and evening community gathers around a fireplace and discusses plans for the day and its results.
Camp dwellers who come here summer after summer, call their days in the camp as “working days”. And it’s not just a cliché. It is real hard work – scrupulous, and difficult from both physical and psychological point of view. Due to this work and commitment many people will then get a more qualified and – sometimes rescuing – assistance. One can’t underestimate receiving assistance from people whom you trust.
Slava, 35 years old. “I had no friends. My relatives ignored me. One can say – everything was lost. But my life began to change… I found here people who supported me, who took me for who I am, who understand me better than anyone else I ever met… I am very grateful to organizers and partners of the camp. I see here many people who need this help and this support. And it works.”
Pavel, 32 years old. “One-third of my life I was using drugs. I won’t guess what this camp will or won’t give me. I just want to say that I trust these people who managed to change their own lives. If these programmes do work, and other people managed – why won’t I? I see the desired result and I am working for it”.
For detailed information, please, contact Pavel Piminov, Communications Director, Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation on e-mail: [email protected]. Contact phone number: +38 (044) 490 4805.
