Shymkent Jewish community makes every effort so that children have a good rest in summer, improved health, and were able to start school with renewed strength. Going to the cinema, to the swimming pool, different open air games - these are things interesting for younger children. What can we offer to our youth? We decided to organize a two-day camp. All the guys were happy to join organizing the camp including buying food, ordering transportation and many other things. On the 4th of July, our "youth" went to investigate the place where two rivers Burunday and Bugun merge.

  On the way we had a lot of fun, sang songs. We found a beautiful meadow with a river. We founded the camp, started a fire. Girls peeled potatoes, boys brought firewood. When everything was ready, we went to look at countryside. Sage, goatweed, and origanum flowered everywhere. Everybody was surprised by the fact - half of the river was cold, the other half - warm. Those who were hot were swimming in the cold water, who were cold - in the warm water. Perfect!

  After lunch, everybody started their favorite activities - playing football, backgammon, and swimming. In the evening, by the fire we sang Jewish songs, listened to stories, dreamed of the future. The two days flew.

  This year, some of the guys have graduated from secondary school and are going to study at universities. Some are going to Israel, others to Russia, some stay here. We wish them success and say thank you for taking active participation in our city Jewish community activities. Now they are grown up and leave for different places. We say "Bon Voyage!" to Andrey Sharonov, Evgeniy Rudin, Elena Sidorenko, Ekaterina Vdovenko, Darya Chibisova, Stella Stuchevskaya, Maxim Davydov, Semen Chibisov. We wish them all the best and hope they will remember the years spent with us in the Jewish community of Shymkent.

Irina Chibisova