On April 20, volunteers from “Sunflower” headed to Dolbeniki and got to work cleaning up the site, including the kitchen, fire pit, and bathhouse. While there, they ran into a big problem: the small pond that had always provided water for showers, the bathhouse, and dishwashing had dried up. Drinking water was always brought in from a nearby village, but without the pond, there’s no way to get enough water for a group—especially families. Talks are ongoing with the site owners to figure out solutions. One idea is drilling a well, but it’s tricky because water layers are deep in the Valdai Hills, and finding a reliable source could mean multiple expensive attempts.
As Natalia Andreeva, Director of Sunflower, explains, this year’s family camp and outdoor trip for “My Tomorrow” participants will be a bit different. Sunflower is choosing a new outdoor location for training young people while keeping the programme’s goals unchanged.
‘For famillies, we’re planning a trip to a well-equipped sanatorium. Since things have become even tougher for families during the crisis, we wanted a more comfortable and predictable setting where parents have to handle everything themselves while keeping an eye on their kids. Many of the parents we support are going through really hard times, and some are even at risk of losing custody of their children. The sanatorium will make things much easier and we can spend quality time with the families and focus on helping them learn’.
Until the water issue is resolved, summer trips to Dolbeniki are on hold – we’ll keep you posted on any updates.
