During the second half of the nineteenth century
During the second half of the nineteenth century, charitable organizations based on national or religious affiliation began operating in Odesa to support members of their respective communities. One such institution was the Charitable Society for the Benefit of the French, founded in 1856 (from 1871 — the French Charitable Society).
The publication presents the society's charter, approved on August 14, 1881. The organization operated under the supervision of the French consul and provided material assistance to compatriots — both permanent and temporary residents of Odesa and the region. The main forms of support were monthly and one-time monetary payments designated for the French, particularly widows and orphans. In exceptional cases, the society provided temporary interest-free loans, limited in amount — primarily to sick or temporarily unemployed individuals.