Two port cities, Klaipėda and Odesa, are joining forces for a meaningful initiative – the creation of a school solidarity network titled “Klaipėda Students for Odesa Students. Two Port Cities – One Heart.” This is an open partnership aimed at supporting Ukrainian school communities during wartime, strengthening connections among children, and fostering civic responsibility.
An Idea Born from a Friendship
The initiator and organizer of the network is Klaipėda Lyceum. The idea to create the solidarity network emerged during the lyceum’s Christmas charity project, when support was being collected for Odesa Lyceum “Harmoniia.” The first conversation between Klaipėda Lyceum’s director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Regina Kontautienė, and the director of the Odesa school, Irina Burdeyna, on December 12, 2025, became the impetus to seek broader, long-term forms of support.
“We realized that this cannot be a one-time donation – it must be a conscious decision to build a lasting friendship and community through education, culture, and human connection. We want children in Ukraine to feel that even in the face of war, they are not alone,” says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Regina Kontautienė, currently serving as Chair of the Board and Head of Education at Klaipėda Lyceum.
During the Christmas fundraising campaign, around €12,000 was transferred to Odesa Lyceum “Harmoniia,” and these funds were used to install a new computer classroom at the school. Children also received gifts collected by students of Klaipėda Lyceum, bringing great joy to those studying in wartime conditions. The cooperation has also expanded into education: starting next academic year, three senior students from Odesa Lyceum “Harmoniia” have been invited to study at Klaipėda Lyceum under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with full scholarships and living support provided. The connection with the Odesa school was facilitated by LRT TV host and journalist Darius Jurgelevičius.
An Open Network – Three Klaipėda Schools Have Joined
Currently, three Klaipėda schools are participating in the network: Klaipėda Lyceum (Director Kristijonas Mineikis), Klaipėda Vydūnas Gymnasium (Director Arvydas Girdzijauskas), and Klaipėda Eduardo Balsys Arts Gymnasium (Director Gintautas Misiukevičius), along with three Odesa schools: Odesa Lyceum “Harmoniia,” Odesa Lyceum No. 89, and Odesa Lyceum No. 9. According to R. Kontautienė, these schools agreed to join the solidarity network without hesitation:
“All participating schools are equal partners. This solidarity network is being created as an open initiative – it is planned to expand in the future by involving more schools both in Klaipėda and Odesa.”
The development of the solidarity network is coordinated by Sigitas Benediktas Jurčys, Head of Social Activities at Klaipėda Lyceum, and Deputy Head for Cultural Activities Taurūnas Baužas, while strategic relations with Odesa schools are maintained by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Regina Kontautienė. On the Odesa side, activities are coordinated by Irina Burdeyna, Director of Lyceum “Harmoniia.”
“When air raid sirens still accompany lessons in Odesa schools, the initiative born in Klaipėda sends a clear message: education can become a bridge connecting cities, communities, and children’s futures – even in the face of war. Our goal is not only to raise funds, but also to create a living, functioning school network where children learn solidarity through real actions, joint projects, communication, and creativity,” says project coordinator Sigitas Benediktas Jurčys.
Upcoming Plans – A Charity Concert
One of the first joint events of the new school solidarity network “Klaipėda Students for Odesa Students. Two Port Cities – One Heart” will be a charity concert scheduled for May 7 at the Klaipėda Cultural Centre “Žvejų rūmai,” which, as a project partner, is providing its main hall free of charge for the event. Funds raised during the concert will be allocated to the three Odesa schools, and the concert program will be created jointly by all three Klaipėda network schools.
The project has also received approval and support from the Klaipėda City Municipality – Odesa has been a partner city of Klaipėda for many years, and the creation of such a network will further strengthen and extend this partnership. All schools in Klaipėda are invited to join the solidarity network “Klaipėda Students for Odesa Students. Two Port Cities – One Heart” – schools in Odesa are looking forward to partners in Klaipėda with whom they can build close cooperation.
