He promised to come and make the children laugh. And he did.

After several weeks of preparation, JyJou, the clown from France, gave his first shows in Ukraine. Suspended moments, filled with bursts of laughter, soap bubbles and colourful magic, where the shadow of war and disease still hangs heavy.

In Lviv, moments of light in the midst of illness

JyJou's first stop was in Lviv, at a hospital for children with cancer. In the usually silent corridors, between the infusions and the tired smiles, balloons flew and laughter broke out. Some children followed the show from their beds, others found the strength to get up, driven by curiosity and the promise of a rare moment.

The faces of their parents said it all: the immense emotion of seeing their children forget - if only for a moment - the pain, the treatments and the anguish. One nurse told us, her eyes shining: "We hadn't seen them laugh like that for weeks. It's a miracle.

The second show in Lviv took place at the Centre Dacha, a family home managed by the Zaporuka Foundation. The centre offers free accommodation to families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment, enabling them to stay together during this difficult period. Since its creation, the Dacha Centre has welcomed more than 1,100 children and their families, providing them with a warm and supportive environment during their treatment.

In this home, far from the clinical atmosphere of the hospital, JyJou brought a breath of fresh air. The children, their parents and even the staff shared moments of laughter and joy, reinforcing the sense of community and hope that reigns at the Dacha Centre.

In Kyiv, a powerful symbol of resilience

But it was in Kyiv that the show took on an even more poignant dimension. JyJou performed at the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, the largest in the country. A place that has become a symbol of the suffering inflicted by this war: on 8 July 2024, a Russian missile hit the hospital directly, killing two adults, including a doctor, injuring 16 people, including seven children, and destroying part of the building.

In the very place where chaos had left deep scars, laughter resounded once again. Not to erase, but to affirm that life, despite everything, goes on. The children laughed, applauded and played. And the adults too. The nursing staff, the parents, the volunteers - they all needed this moment. One doctor, who had been involved in the rescue efforts after the attack, whispered to us: "Today, we felt that the world had not forgotten us.

The emotions of a first trip

For JyJou, this trip to Ukraine is a first. And he's enjoying it immensely.

"I arrived with my suitcases full of costumes, but I'm leaving with my heart full of emotion. Playing here, in these hospitals and at the Dacha Centre, surrounded by incredible carers and brave children... it's overwhelming. You can't come away from an encounter like that unscathed.

His eyes mist up, but his red nose stays put. He knows that other children are still waiting for him, elsewhere, with the same need for magic.

A message from France

These shows were not just artistic performances. They carried a message. That France, that the French, are still there, alongside the Ukrainian people. That behind every red nose, there is an outstretched hand. That even in the midst of conflict, humanity can still surprise, console and inspire.

Personal commitment, collective support

The trip was self-financed by JyJou, who is deeply committed to the cause. He was supported on the ground by The Small Projects Team, who coordinated the logistics and organised the shows in the hospitals.

A huge thank you to Nataliia Piskova, who represents The Small Projects Team in Kyiv. She played an essential role in this adventure: she was in charge of all the preparation and organisation, and also accompanied JyJou during the shows with a rare generosity, as an assistant clown who was as spontaneous as she was efficient - and wearing a magnificent assistant's hat that delighted young and old alike! Without her, these magical moments wouldn't have been the same.

Next steps

After these high points in Lviv and Kyiv, JyJou plans to travel to the Mykolaïv oblast to continue his work with children affected by war and disease. He will then return to Kyiv for his final meetings with the children before returning to France.

Other shows are planned in the coming days. But these first meetings have already left an indelible mark. A glimmer of hope, in the eyes of a child. And that's precious.