Poland, Wroclaw
Like many things in my life, the Wroclaw branch of the Worldwide Club of Odesites came into being not by chance, but quite spontaneously.
It all began with one of the festivals held in the city on the Oder River. The festival had been scheduled for a certain date, but due to changes in the city authorities’ plans, it was proposed to move it to September 2.
As soon as we learned about this, we immediately contacted the festival organizers. There was no need for lengthy explanations—the birthday of our beloved “Mama” Odesa is sacred! We were given the opportunity to present our city, celebrate this wonderful occasion, and share it with the residents and visitors of Wroclaw.
It is worth mentioning that we received the news about the change of date only one week before the festival, at around 11:00 p.m. Our minds were overflowing with ideas. By 11:30 p.m. we had received confirmation of our participation, and at the very same moment we posted a message on social media asking Odesites living in Wroclaw to join us and help organize the event.
Of course, we also turned to our longtime friends in Odesa. By the following morning, we had secured the support of the Worldwide Club of Odesites and the Odesa Tourism Association. They immediately embraced our idea, and by the next day we had the backing of both the city authorities and many of our friends.
At the same time, we called every Odessite we knew in Wroclaw. Everyone was enthusiastic and eager to contribute to the celebration of Odesa’s birthday. Social media quickly filled with offers to help. People wrote that they were ready to participate because their grandparents, parents, relatives, or friends were from Odesa, or simply because they had once visited our beautiful city and wanted to relive its unique atmosphere far away from the Southern Palmyra.
Odesa stays in your heart forever—even if you have visited it only once!
With such incredible support, our event was a tremendous success. Our stand attracted the largest number of visitors at the festival. We introduced guests to the spirit of the city by the sea, shared its stories, and let them experience its unique atmosphere. The people of Wroclaw tasted famous Odesa specialties, including stuffed fish, eggplant caviar, and, of course, fried anchovy patties. And how we managed to get the fish—that is a story in itself!
At that time, I was serving as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Odesa, and with such strong support behind us, the idea of establishing a branch of the Worldwide Club of Odesites in Wroclaw naturally emerged. We formed an initiative group and submitted our proposal to the Worldwide Club of Odesites. Later, with the approval and support of the Club’s Presidential Council, our branch on the Oder River officially came into existence.
We are always happy to welcome everyone who feels that Odesa has left a lasting mark on their heart.
Mykhailo Mykytiuk
Worldwide Club of Odesites Branch, Wroclaw (Poland)
Email: vkowro@gmail.com