Olga om livet som clown vid frontlinjen: Hopp, lek och motståndskraft i Ukraina
25 februari 2025
With constant shelling, kids can’t attend school, so they study online, which makes learning and socializing much harder. Yet, people here keep believing in good. We help each other, support displaced families, organize community events, psychological support groups, and art workshops. Living in Zaporizhzhia is a choice we’ve made for our city and our country.
In these three years, I’ve felt everything—from fear and helplessness to confidence and unbreakable faith in my people. The first six months felt like a nightmare. I couldn’t sleep for days, worried about my family. Then, I threw myself into volunteering, working non-stop. We gathered supplies for civilians and the military—food, clothes, hygiene products. Later, we founded a large center called "Palyanytsia," uniting over 600 people. With little experience but hearts full of determination, we worked tirelessly—making bulletproof vests, evacuating people, delivering aid and ambulances.
After 1.5 years of relentless effort, I found myself emotionally drained—every ounce of energy consumed by the war effort. It felt like I had nothing left to give. But life demanded more, and with no money left for my family, I had to find a way forward. That’s when I returned to a role that had once brought me light in the darkest times: being a hospital clown. In the midst of devastation, laughter became not just an escape, but a vital source of healing and strength—both for the children and for me in my personal life.
I remember when aerial bombs hit our area at night. The nearest shelter was too far away, so my family and I huddled together on the floor of the corridor. In that moment of helplessness, we reached for something simple yet powerful—we played cards. In those moments, play wasn’t just a distraction—it was our refuge, a fragile thread of normalcy that kept us going. Playing saved us.
I met my first clown in 2015 and instantly fell in love with the idea. Clowning became my safe space—a playful way to connect with my emotions and those around me. A clown lives fully in the moment, without past or future, creating joy from within. Science shows that laughter and play help people manage tough emotions and restore emotional balance. Laughter relieves tension, allowing the body—and spirit—to relax. For children, it’s a way to simply be kids again, to play, laugh, and learn. It changes the entire atmosphere, like fresh air after a storm.
War is draining. It forces you to toughen up and protect those you love. But clowning and connecting with children gives me the strength to keep going, to create moments of joy and safety for them—moments of childhood, even now.
I remember visiting a boy named Dmytro, around 12, in the endocrinology department of Zaporizhzhia Regional Children's Hospital. He was in severe pain, with catheters in his arms. When we asked if he wanted to play, he said yes. For 30 minutes, he forgot his pain—we played games, sang, and drew together. At the end, he hugged us all tightly. His courage and ability to just be a kid, even for a little while, left us in awe.
I no longer feel the fear I had at the beginning of the war. Now, I know what I can do to help. Action always beats fear. Being with like-minded people gives me strength. When we see children smiling, playing, and connecting—it inspires us to keep going. The future is built by our actions today. So let’s dream and act—this is our motto.
If you’re reading this, please remember: the war in Ukraine continues, even if it’s no longer on the news every day. Our children live under constant threat. Your support is vital so we can continue providing psychosocial help. Every child here faces daily stress from mass attacks, sirens, explosions, and drone strikes. The economy focuses on military needs, and programs for children’s mental health are slow and underfunded.
We are so grateful to work with Clowns Without Borders. Thanks to this partnership, children receive care, understanding, laughter, and a chance to dive into dreams and imagination. This work gives us strength too. The memory of meeting a clown can last a lifetime—and it helps children better survive the horrors of war.
Ditt stöd är inte bara en donation – det är ett ögonblick av glädje, barndom och en påminnelse om att barnen i Ukraina inte är bortglömda. Ge din gåva här.
