Eve­ry sum­mer, somewhe­re in Eastern Euro­pe, chil­dren gather to wear mili­ta­ry uni­forms, camp in ten­ts under harsh con­di­tions and prac­ti­se using guns. To an outsi­der, this idea seems sca­ry. For the chil­dren, howe­ver, it is the time of their lives.

The Hun­ga­rian NGO Hon­véd­su­li (Home Defen­ce School) is com­mit­ted to tea­ching disci­pli­ne, patrio­ti­sm and cama­ra­de­rie to chil­dren aged 10 to 18 in a socie­ty that it belie­ves is beco­ming slo­th­ful and discon­nec­ted. The chil­dren camp out­doors, guard a fire, go hiking and sing toge­ther. They teach each other how to use air­soft wea­pons — repli­cas of real guns — and spend weeks fol­lo­wing strict mili­ta­ry disci­pli­ne. As they enter puber­ty, this is their fir­st expe­rien­ce of facing expec­ta­tions, respon­si­bi­li­ty and the oppo­si­te sex. Friend­ships and a strong sen­se of com­mu­ni­ty are for­med as they endu­re a few brui­ses and do push-ups as punish­ment. They are deter­mi­ned, some­ti­mes lazy or in love. For many of them, the­se adven­tu­res pro­vi­de the only solid ground in life, offe­ring a fra­mework throu­gh which to under­stand the world and their pla­ce in it.

Whi­le repor­ting from mili­ta­ry-the­med sum­mer camps for chil­dren, the series exa­mi­nes our atti­tu­de towards strict disci­pli­ne, wea­pons and war, rai­sing que­stions about their pla­ce in socie­ty.