We always make lots of plans for the summer vacation - meet new people, learn new things, relax, and improve health. We would like to start a new academic year in good health and full of energy. Children are our future. The more we contribute into their development the more evident the result is! These young people will become active members of our community.

June was fully dedicated for preparing and attending the Festival. This year the youngest members of our community went to the Festival. They were all flustered because it was their first trip without parents, first performance on stage, new impressions and new friends.

This is what our kids said about the Festival. Slevik Shtein put it simply, "The Festival was cool!" Anel Akbalayeva, "I never expected the Festival to be so interesting and full of fun! I made many friends from other cities. I am looking forward to the next year Festival. Alexander Iosifovich helped me a lot with his kind words before my performance. Thank you!" Anzhelika and Vika, "We have learned a lot of new and unusual things! We met girls from Pavlodar, Semey, and Almaty. We are waiting for new meetings!" Liza Borovkina (6 years old) and Alina Pokachalova (9 years old) expressed their opinion by a broad smile and said, "This was so great! We want to go back to Karaganda!" When we were going back home we were all making plans for the future, for the next year. We were recollecting with gratitude how Alexander Iosifovich Baron was supporting us with his kind words before our performance

After the trip to Karaganda we had a two-day family camp. In total, 50 people went to the country. The youngest was 1 year old, the eldest - 60. Everybody found something interesting to do - a handicrafts workshop was making beautiful handicrafts, an art workshop was developing the topic "My Israel", the club of Jewish traditions and history was organizing quizzes and awarding prizes. We had psychological trainings - meeting each other, teambuilding, developing imagination. In the evenings we had dancing parties where people of all ages danced. These days flew so quickly. We did not even want to go back home!

Then we were so happy to find out that we are going to a camp for four days but without our parents! Our team participated in all camp activities. We learned how to march, created name for our team "Ahdut" and a slogan "Not a step back, only go forward and only together!" Every day after getting up, having done morning exercises, having breakfast, and having cleaned the territory we had classes devoted to specific topics. Our guys actively participated in the opening ceremony of the camp - they danced break, Jewish folk dances and sang Jewish songs. One day was fully devoted to sports. Children in the camp were supporting our team and were happy when we won in football, volleyball, and draughts. Once we were asked to come up with a performance about sports. We created a very funny dance. All the camp was delighted to watch it. It was very funny. Irina Chibisova, one of our supervisors, suggested playing a game - imaginary travel to different stations. Our Jewish team was the most united one; it was easy for us to understand each other. Our team "Ahdut" became friends with everybody in the camp and when we were leaving on the fifth day, many guys came to say good bye. We were leaving full of positive emotions and impressions!

The summer continues. Now we are having a summer camp in Hesed. We are playing, having trips around the city, make handicrafts, and learn Jewish traditions. We thank all adults for organizing such a wonderful time for us!

Darya Chibisova