How are Youngstarts doing in Odessa?

What has changed in the last two years?

Before the invasion, we had a youth group here in Odessa for teenagers aged 12 and over that met once a week. However, the teenagers left Ukraine after the first major attacks. I also fled with my family (with our two children and my pregnant wife) to the west of Ukraine for the first few months. We lived in a house belonging to Operation Mobilisation (OM) in a very small space with many other refugees, who were also able to stay here for a short time as they passed through. We then returned to our home in Odessa. Over time, new children came to our church. We started our weekly meetings again with these children aged eight and over.

What would an outside observer write about your meetings?

They would say that despite the difficult situation in the country, someone is committed to the children. You give them the opportunity to spend a happy time outdoors in the fresh air and learn scouting skills. This will help them to become useful citizens who may be ready to help in difficult times to come.

What special adventures or experiences would you like to tell us about?

· It is not a Sunday school in a church, but a biblical lesson outside in the beautiful natural surroundings that can be experienced with all the senses.

• God is not only found in the Bible or in golden verses, but I experience his presence in everything I see, feel, touch and hear.
• Lighting a fire and cooking a meal over it, making friends and building good relationships with other people - all this and much more can be learnt.
• Reverence for nature is taught, everyone should keep it as natural as possible and move through it with respect, together with loving, adventurous friends.

Where have you experienced God's guidance in an impressive way?

After I started organizing weekly youth group events again, two former teenagers from abroad soon returned to Odessa with the desire to become mini-leaders. An older girl also joined them and now actively supports the girls' group. I look after these three young people and support them in their tasks as mini-leaders.

We also have children in our group who are traumatized. One girl who fled from an occupied area had to see things that no child should see. Another girl is going through a difficult divorce of her parents, and an adopted boy has lived in terrible conditions, which have had a negative impact on his development. But after two years in the youth club, positive changes were noticed in him.

What challenges and difficulties do you face?

Switching from working with teenagers to a children's group was a challenge. I also didn't understand the children's lack of attention and their mood swings, from great interest and enjoyment of electronic devices to hyperactivity, for a long time. Over time, I realized that stress was the cause. Air alarms during rocket attacks cause anxiety in the children and also in my mini-leaders. They don't enjoy school very much, but extreme activities help them to relieve stress. My strategy is therefore to help the children return to normality through more adventures in nature.

What impact has the event had on the development of our national Youngstars Movement?

Our country has changed and we expect a large number of traumatized children and young people. This will be a challenge for churches and society. Our systematic courses will help to heal and restore children. The churches are showing increased interest in this. Unfortunately, we have lost many potential future leaders due to the war and therefore cannot fulfil the existing requests. But with God's help, we will be able to continue to spread the valuable Youngstars work in Ukraine