Ukraine: Bringing Smiles to Children in Front-Line Communities

By Sofiia Borysenko

With his troupe Per Far Sorridere il Cielo (“To Make the Sky Smile”), and support from child protection partners and local authorities, Pimpa brings moments of wonder and hope to children growing up amid the chaos of war.

Laughter in the Shadows of War

Across towns and villages near the front line, schools operate in bomb shelters. Air raid sirens interrupt lessons. Children crouch beneath desks in darkened basements. Playgrounds lie in ruins. Classrooms are gutted.

The psychological toll is immense. According to UNICEF, children in Ukraine face heightened risks of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. One in five has lost a close relative. Children under three have never known peace. Their parents are stretched thin—physically and emotionally exhausted.

In every corner of the country, one truth endures: war has stolen childhood from millions.

A Clown with a Mission

Amid the devastation, an unlikely figure offers children a reprieve.

Marco Rodari—Claun Il Pimpa—calls himself a “humanitarian clown.” For more than 15 years, he and his troupe have performed in war zones around the world, transforming bomb shelters into theatres of delight. His shows offer more than distraction—they create a rare sense of safety.

In March 2025, Pimpa toured Kharkiv—one of Ukraine’s hardest-hit regions. The city and region endure nearly constant air raid alarms—residents have sustained dozens of attacks and more than 1,000 civilian casualties so far in 2025. With backing from local authorities and child protection groups, his team turned bunkers into makeshift stages. Children clapped and giggled as he juggled, blew bubbles, and twisted balloons into animals. For a few magical moments, the fear of missiles and drones faded.

“Each time, the children’s reactions amazed me,” said Maka Khazalia, head of the OCHA office in Kharkiv, who helped coordinate three shows. “Their laughter, their excitement—these moments remind us just how vital joy is, even in the bleakest times.”

Over the years, Pimpa has performed more than 1,000 shows in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine, reaching nearly 100,000 children. His initiative, Bread and Wonder, also supports access to education and medical care.

“Every child deserves moments of joy—without fear,” Maka added.

Beyond the Stage

For Pimpa, clowning is just the beginning. In Izium, a town devastated by airstrikes, his team raised funds to rebuild the local library—once reduced to rubble. Today, it hums with crayons, storybooks, and laughter—a quiet refuge where children can feel safe again.

In Kyiv, the troupe is creating a “Library of Wonders” inside a paediatric oncology hospital. With support from NGOs Zaporuka and Soleterre, the space will feature books, toys, and play areas. Children recovering from illness—and from war—will find comfort and imagination in its corners, even during air raids.

The Hidden Wounds of War

Between February 2022 and May 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed the deaths of 710 children, with another 2,786 injured—mostly from explosive weapons used in populated areas. The true numbers are likely higher.

In 2024 alone, humanitarian organizations reached nearly 2 million children with psychosocial and protection support. In 2025, child protection interventions covered nearly 400,000 people.

But the needs continue to grow. As of May 2025, child protection actors had received only 9 per cent of the funding they sought for 2025,  and had reached only 19 per cent of the  intended population with child protection programming. The funding cuts being experienced throughout the humanitarian sector are putting these and other life-saving programs at risk.

While hostilities continue in Kharkiv, and across Ukraine, Pimpa’s performances and storytelling spaces offer more than temporary relief. 

They help children process trauma, rebuild trust, and rediscover joy—one joke, one book, one smile at a time.