Ordinary school days turned into a magical journey when the Dariana and Eugene set off for their summer camp in Cambridge, the UK. No one could have guessed that, instead of their usual lessons, they would find themselves surrounded by narrow streets filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and old books, enjoying fun activities and making friends from all over the world. This was more than just a camp; it was a true adventure, where each day offered new knowledge, experiences, and memories to last a lifetime.
After classes, there was always an activity: excursions to museums, park walks, boating on local canals, cafes , and shopping. Some students even got a chance to visit the law department of Cambridge University!
Here’s what our students had to say about their experiences:
Dariana:
“Every morning, we woke up at seven and checked in at eight before heading to school. We had breakfast there and then went to our lessons. I chose law, public speaking, and entrepreneurship. I learned how to quickly integrate into a new group, make friends, and although speaking English all day was challenging, it was so much fun and educational. In class, I learned a lot about English laws, the global legal system, starting a business, public speaking, and much more.
After lessons, we always had some kind of activity. My favorite parts were the day in London, karaoke, rock climbing, and a day of board games. Cambridge has so many colleges, and I got to see them from the water and even entered some. For a few days, we were grouped by our chosen subjects and visited colleges related to our fields. It was fascinating to learn about their history, pros, and cons of studying there. For example, I visited the law branch of Cambridge University.
We also had weekly lectures from various speakers on topics like artificial intelligence and flight mathematics. The speakers were professors from Cambridge University, and it was thrilling to attend their lectures. I would never have imagined that flight mathematics could be so interesting, and the lecture on AI was truly impressive, as there isn’t much information on AI yet. Learning directly from an expert was incredibly valuable.
But above all, my memories are of the people I met. I got to know people from all over the world, and it was an amazing and exciting experience. I learned that in South Korea, they don’t say 'Bless you' when someone sneezes, and in Spain, they often drink milk for breakfast. I am so grateful for the friendships I made there, and we even plan to meet up. Our camp leaders were fantastic! Spending time with them was so much fun, and I really miss it. I also had the opportunity to meet the founder of Svitlo, Yulia, and it was amazing to finally meet her in person, beyond the laptop screens.
Svitlo School gave me the opportunity to attend this camp at MPW, and it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I am incredibly grateful for the chance I was given. The support and trust I felt will forever warm my heart, no matter where life takes me.”
Eugene:
“The camp was incredible! After arriving in the UK, we were taken to the school, where we learned the rules, got acquainted with our dorm, and had time to settle in. Every morning, we had lessons, and after lunch, we enjoyed different activities like visiting museums, gardens, boating, parks, and shopping. On weekends, we traveled to London, where we had free time. On the final weekend, we had a big dance party with other MPW students in London. These were the best two weeks of my life!”
But the most unforgettable memories came from the new friendships made. Our students met people from around the world, learned about different cultural customs, such as how in Korea people don’t say “Bless you” when someone sneezes or that in Spain it’s common to drink milk for breakfast. The friendships formed there were truly special.
Svitlo School gave our students this opportunity, and it truly became the adventure of a lifetime.
