A moving travelogue from Odessa about war, humanity and hope.
Pascale Vayer, kleine herzen – Odessa, Ukraine, from April 23 to 30, 2026
For more than twenty years, supporting kleine herzen The most vulnerable children in Ukraine. Over the years, this commitment has allowed me to get to know a beautiful yet deeply scarred country. Until recently, however, my travels never took me to Odessa, the large port city on the Black Sea.
Odessa is a cosmopolitan city: wide, tree-lined boulevards, the Potemkin Stairs leading down to the sea, a port that opens up views into the distance, and breathtaking sunrises… And yet, this city is now heavily scarred by war.
Every night, sirens announce new bombings. Every morning, the city counts its dead and wounded. During my stay, the city center was hit very close to where I was: a kindergarten, a hotel, and several apartment buildings were damaged. This immediate proximity to the war makes a terrible reality clear:
Together with our partner Caritas-Spes Odessa I was able to visit several centers that take in children from families in great need – mostly refugees from occupied territories – as well as a center for children living with HIV.
Under conditions of extreme uncertainty, therapists, educators and volunteers fight every day to preserve the mental health, dignity and hope of these children.
At the “Hope” center, children work with clay: they shape, paint, and create. From their hands emerge small ceramic kittens, painted with beautiful, vibrant colors – true symbols of hope in the midst of war.
Only one gift is possible per donation.
(*) The small ceramic cats will be available from July 2026, provided the security situation in this region of Ukraine allows transport.
Should the situation on the ground worsen, the gift unfortunately cannot be delivered.
When a young girl asked me if I wasn't afraid to be in Odessa, I replied:
“Yes, sometimes there is fear – but it doesn’t matter in the face of the courage, dignity and strength of the Ukrainian people.”
Today, the children of Ukraine need our support more than ever.
Let's remain united.
Let's support the children of Ukraine.
