A scout leader from Ukraine has said children will be able to spend a week “far from danger” during the Essex International Rally, BBC reports.
Twenty-one teenagers from the war-torn country are among more than 4,500 children and youngsters travelling to the event at Roxwell, near Chelmsford, which runs until Saturday.
Antonina Prudko said they had to collect their visas in Warsaw, Poland, and then travelled by bus, train and plane to Essex. She told the BBC:
We are here and really happy to be here. We managed to collect children from different Ukrainian cities and get here, far from danger. They feel safer here and have a great time meeting new friends and doing different activities.
The first Essex County Gathering was held at Prairie Park in Southend-on-Sea in 1927 and was attended by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement. The event has been held every four years since then and in 1949 it was opened to international scouts for the first time.
Nine-year-old Eva was part of a group that travelled from Ukraine to attend this year’s convention. She said:
I think this is really cool, it’s the best idea.
This year’s event attracted participants from over 40 countries and was organised by 1,500 adult volunteers.
Rally leader Paul Walker said there was a “fantastically magical atmosphere” at the event. He also added:
They’re getting stuck in to being themselves for a week in a field and away from mums and dads – and having a great time. They’re going to have memories for life here.
