Odessa's Kindergarten No. 141 has reopened its doors, made possible by the support from Japan.

The first children are returning to the facility, which is being restored with funds from Japanese citizens and the UNDP.

The institution was damaged in the summer of 2023 due to a Russian attack. The reconstruction involved the Government of Japan, the city of Yokohama, a long-time partner of Odessa, and local authorities.

In the refurbished building, two short-term groups will operate, accepting 25 children from 08:00 to 12:00. Once the internal work in the second and third buildings, including the cafeteria, is completed, full-day groups will be opened, allowing a total of 125 preschoolers to attend.

Today, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome, and representatives from the Yokohama municipality were in direct contact with Odessa, as they also gather funds through crowdfunding to support the institution.

«The reopening of one of the kindergarten buildings, restored with Japan's support, is a testament to our commitment to protecting children and their future,» Nakagome stated.

«We value our partnership and will continue to help as close friends. We hope that the crowdfunding campaign with UNDP will fill the kindergarten with children's smiles,» emphasized Yokohama's Deputy Mayor Hirotaka Sato.

Odessa's Mayor Gennady Trukhanov emphasized:

«We are separated by thousands of kilometers, but we constantly feel Japan's support in our endeavors.»

Christoforos Politis, acting Permanent Representative of UNDP in Ukraine, added:

«It is a great honor for UNDP to be part of such a partnership. We remain committed to the reconstruction of Ukraine, uniting people and communities across borders.»