{"id":10337,"date":"2025-04-02T12:12:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T12:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmallprojects.org\/?p=10337"},"modified":"2025-04-03T09:25:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T09:25:59","slug":"clown-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmallprojects.org\/en\/clown-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"French clown JyJou travels to Ukraine to draw smiles on children's faces"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 This week marks the start of a wonderful adventure: a French clown is off to Ukraine to bring joy to children in hospitals!<\/p>

\ud83c\udfa4 Last month, on the sad third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, we had a stand at the demonstration on the Place de la Bastille (link<\/a>). Among the visitors, we met Jean-Jacques, who was touched by our vision of humanitarian aid and our projects. He came to us with an incredible idea.<\/p>

\ud83e\udd21 \ud83e\udd39\u200d\u2642\ufe0f \ud83e\ude84 Jean-Jacques is also JyJou (see\u00a0its site<\/a>), a talented clown, mime and magician! He wanted to get involved in Ukraine by doing what he does best: putting on shows for children, especially those in hospital. For this first trip to Ukraine, he was looking for a partner organisation. Naturally, we said yes! Thanks to the fantastic work of our Kyiv-based colleague Natalia Piskova, a week-long tour was organised to Lviv, Kyiv and Berizky (Mykola\u00efv oblast).<\/p>

JyJou is getting ready to leave Paris for a journey that promises to be rich in emotions, both for the children and for him.<\/p>

Here is what he wrote before his departure:<\/p>

The day I learned of the start of this war, my whole body became one, I immediately felt that something vital was happening over there.\u00a0<\/i>Ukraine, like others, was going to be this small flame of resistance to the wave of obscurantism that is invading our planet.<\/i><\/p>

\u2753 How can I help them at my level?<\/i><\/p>

By going to the demonstration in Paris every year, hanging a Ukrainian flag from my window, hanging a small flower in the Ukrainian colours from my satchel, making small donations...<\/i><\/p>

But something was missing. So it was obvious to go there and show my support.\u00a0<\/i>and through me a little of France.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>

\ud83e\udd14 And how?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>

With clowns, magic and flowers! <\/i>To be that little hummingbird of their dreams and smiles...*.<\/i><\/p>

\ud83c\udf3b And these sunflowers, which have always been with me, were to take on their full meaning, as today they are a symbol of their resistance.<\/i><\/p>

After several attempts with associations,\u00a0<\/i><\/p>

It was at this year's event in Paris that I had the chance to meet the Small Projects Team.\u00a0<\/i>They immediately liked my project (probably my mime part... \ud83d\ude0a). <\/i>And thanks to Magda, Charles and, of course, Natalia, a local Ukrainian, a Smile Trail has been prepared...*.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>

\ud83d\udcaa For all those people out there, full of courage: Slava Ukraini!<\/i><\/p>

Pericles: \u00abThere is no happiness without freedom, nor freedom without courage\u00bb.\u00bb\u00a0<\/i><\/p>

You can follow JyJou's journey on Instagram at\u00a0https:\/\/instagram.com\/thesmallprojectsteam<\/a>
and <\/span>https:\/\/instagram.com\/laplanetejyjou\/<\/a><\/p>

Initiatives like this are at the heart of our mission. They remind our Ukrainian friends that many people, in France and elsewhere, are always at their side.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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