Odesa, 3 September 2025 – After more than two years of closure due to war damage, Kindergarten No. 141 in Odesa has welcomed children back to a safe and renewed space. The restoration of the facility was led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Government of Japan.

Of the kindergarten’s three buildings, one has now been fully restored and reopened, with repairs on a second building expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Reconstruction included repairs to roofs, ceilings, walls, floors, facades, electrical systems, and the surrounding grounds. 

To support the kindergarten’s full reopening and reaffirm the solidarity of the Japanese people, UNDP and Yokohama, Odesa’s sister city in Japan, launched a crowdfunding campaign. The initiative aims to raise 3 million Japanese yen (approximately U.S. $20,000) to provide new playground equipment. 

Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, Kindergarten No. 141 provided early education to 125 children. The facility was closed after the invasion and remained so until 2023, when Odesa City Council equipped it with a shelter for 80 children, making it safe and ready to reopen.

However, in June 2023, a missile blast wave damaged three buildings and the kindergarten playground, rendering the premises unsafe. Despite this, the kindergarten staff continued to take care of the damaged building, while hoping for reconstruction.

Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov thanked international partners and everyone who helped restore the kindergarten. “Thank you to UNDP for your professionalism and sensitivity to our cultural heritage,” Trukhanov said. “Thank you to our Japanese partners for their generosity and humanity. Thank you to the Yokohama community for becoming part of our big international family. Odesa is a city that knows how to show its appreciation, and today we thank you for standing with us and for helping us not just to build, but to restore faith.”

He added, “Thanks to our joint efforts, the educational process has already begun with short-term stay options: two groups are operating for 25 children. After the main building with the cafeteria is repaired, the kindergarten will transition to full-day operations.”

Christophoros Politis, Officer-in-Charge, UNDP in Ukraine, emphasized the importance of international solidarity, stating, “As a development agency, we know that supporting children and youth – their learning and wellbeing – is the backbone of any nation’s future.”

“Support to the Kindergarten No. 141 by UNDP, the Government of Japan, Odesa City and Yokohama City will stand as a remarkable symbol of solidarity, resilience, and international cooperation,” Politis went on. “UNDP is honoured to be part of such an important partnership, and we remain committed to promoting recovery in Ukraine by bringing people and communities together across borders."

Hirotaka Sato, Vice Mayor of Yokohama City, who joined the ceremony online, underlined the value of the Japanese city’s ongoing partnership with Odesa. “We have already marked 60 years of the twinning relationship between Yokohama and Odesa,” Sato said. “

We value this partnership, and we will continue to walk alongside you as close friends. Through our crowdfunding campaign with UNDP we hope to further support the kindergarten and fill it with children’s laughter.”

H.E. Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, also joining online, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Ukraine’s recovery. “The reopening of this kindergarten, restored with support from Japan, reflects our commitment to safeguarding children and their future. It also stands as a powerful symbol of friendship and solidarity between Odesa, Yokohama, Japan, and Ukraine,” Nakagome said.

Background:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a leading UN agency supporting Ukraine’s recovery – ranging from policy development to reconstruction – guided by the principles of “building back better” and human security. In Odesa, with support from the Government of Japan, UNDP has delivered critical support, including assistance to local businesses, critical energy equipment, and rehabilitation tools for veterans and war-affected communities.

The City of Yokohama, Odesa’s sister city since 1965, has a long tradition of solidarity rooted in their shared history of wartime recovery. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Yokohama has mobilized humanitarian aid, fundraising, and support for displaced Ukrainians, while deepening cooperation with Odesa through technical exchanges. 

In 2024, Yokohama and UNDP formalized their collaboration, making the restoration of Kindergarten No. 141 the first joint project under their new partnership.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org