The MOC Camp in Madeira was a multi-day trip combining therapeutic support and personal development organised as part of the MOC programme. It was attended by seven young people and six adults, including care staff and members of the Pankracy Foundation. For the participants, it was a time to rest, work with the body, talk, connect with nature and discover a world beyond the everyday life of their care centre.
The MOC Camp was created to give young people a safe space to pause, rest and build relationships based on trust. The trip combined therapeutic work, outdoor activities, social education, discovering a new culture and daily practice of skills needed in adult life.
Madeira was not chosen by chance. With its mountains, ocean, walking trails and peaceful surroundings, the island naturally supported the goals of the Camp. It offered space to slow down, work with the body and truly step away from everyday life. It was also far enough from the participants’ familiar reality to symbolically open the door to a new beginning.
The Camp programme included breathing workshops, elements of yoga, sightseeing around Madeira, discovering local culture and cuisine, practising English in real-life situations, and learning how to navigate travel, airports, restaurants and public spaces. For many participants, it was their first trip abroad and their first flight – an important experience in itself, helping them break through barriers and strengthen their sense of agency.
But the Camp was more than an educational trip. It was an experience built around relationships. Participants highlighted the atmosphere of safety, care and closeness. One person said that during the trip they did not feel as though they were travelling with educators and strangers, but with family. For us, this is the clearest proof that the MOC Camp created a space where young people could feel seen, cared for and important.
Movement and breathing exercises were an especially important part of the camp. Participants said the sessions helped them better understand how breathing, movement and pausing can affect wellbeing, stress levels, concentration and emotional balance. They returned home not only with memories, but also with practical tools for taking care of themselves in everyday life.
One participant wrote: “It was my first time on a plane. It was also the first time I experienced someone doing something for me with no expectation of anything in return.” Another added that after the trip they realised that “you just have to want it.” These words show that the MOC Camp was more than a journey. It was an experience of agency, trust and belief in oneself.
The MOC Camp in Madeira was made possible thanks to partners who believed in the idea of empowering young people from the Youth Educational Centre in Łobżenica. We thank RealCo Property Investment and Development, the Warsaw Chamber of Notaries, The British School Warsaw and ClickMeeting Poland. The project is also supported by the National Freedom Institute as part of the MOC project.