In 2014 Oleksandr Chub joined the ranks of the 2nd battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine, and then joined the newly formed Ukrainian Volunteer Corps.
In the battles for the Donetsk airport, he received a serious leg injury. Doctors said that Alexander would have to use crutches for the rest of his life. But he did not put up with it and recovered almost completely. During the rehabilitation, the veteran got the idea of a business with an important social mission.
As Oleksandr told in an interview with Hromadske radio: “The idea of the “Strokati Yenoty” (“Motley raccoons” in English) children’s camp came to me during a long rehabilitation after receiving a serious injury. I got to the USA, and there I cycled 10,000 kilometers. During the rehabilitation process and travelling around the country, I received so much kindness and support from other people, that I wanted somehow to thank the world for treating me this way.”
Publisher Vladyslav Kyrychenko supported Oleksandr’s idea. He provided the territory of the “Kuznia” Youth Movement Center in Unezh to host an adventure children’s camp. To realize his vision, Oleksandr Chub gathered a large team of volunteers, which provided assistance to volunteer veterans and families of the fallen defenders.
Oleksandr studied a lot, he tried different formats of fundraising for his business. In particular, he enlisted the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for his “Strokati Yenoty” children’s camp. Later on, he was able to launch a full-fledged veteran business.
“This project not only brings income and satisfaction but also gives an opportunity for self-realization. I made it profitable, independent of any external grants. The most important thing is the desire to do something interesting, to share It with the kids,” Oleksandr Chub told Ukrainianer.
“Strokati Yenoty” adventure camp has become the place where children from all over Ukraine dream of going. The first visitors to the camp were the children of the fallen and wounded defenders of the battalion where Oleksandr once served.
“Strokati Yenoty” overturned the idea of ordinary children camps with its compulsion and boring programs. Here, children are taught to be active and independent. But, of course, there are certain rules of the so-called game that they should follow so that it wouldn’t turn into chaos. These rules include, for example, sorting garbage, speaking without any swear words and only in Ukrainian with maximum live communication possible.
Children play sports, travel, have different creative activities and communicate with each other a lot. The camp is designed to encourage children’s desire to learn more about the world and lead an active life.
Oleksandr pays special attention to his “motley team” of the camp. Those who want to camp with children must first organize a class or an event for them. And only then, if they can get on the same level with children, without building any hierarchies, then they get into the team of instructors.
“Strokati Yenoty” is a social project that became a business, but remained true to the values and goals that were set at the beginning.
Nowadays, Oleksandr Chub rejoined the ranks of the defenders of Ukraine, doing everything possible to bring Victory, so after that, the Ukrainian children will once again have happy childhoods with lots of trips and adventures.
