Children’s camp at Duchonka (source: SITA)
Fico announced that the first group of 31 children has already been received by the recreational site belonging to the Interior Ministry. The facility’s capacity is 54 children. The first group came on August 1, with a total of four groups set to spend time here by the end of the summer holidays, i.e. 170 children in total, according to facility director Mária Grznárová.
A total of 700 children from poor families are expected to be placed in summer camps throughout Slovakia this summer. Other facilities available are at the Zemplínska Šírava lake in Tatranská Lomnica in the High Tatra Mountains, and at Smrekovica.
“The cost per child represents around €20 per day, with the overall cost for the summer camps amounting to €100,000, said Fico, as quoted by TASR. “We pay for accommodation, food and insurance for the children, while their parents ensure transport to the camps and back.”
However, the children have to be healthy, have at least one parent and the whole family has to have a monthly income lower than €800, the Sme daily reported on the same day.
“It is not clear who the government wants to help,” INESS think tank analyst Radovan Ďurana told the daily. “Families with low income have a variety of problems which are not solved by providing summer camps for children.”
He also pointed out that it is not clear who decides which children are healthy or how their healthiness will be evaluated. The government office has not replied to Sme’s questions.
