Poltava Oblast has launched the "Open Football Lessons" project

09.05.2023 13:00

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Poltava Oblast started the "Open Soccer Lessons" project in Myrhorod, uniting war-affected children through psychosocial soccer activities. This event for children was organized by the Ukrainian Football Association, the Poltava Region Football Association and the Myrhorod community.

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Under the leadership of the regional coordinator of the project, the deputy head of the Football Association of the Poltava region, Volodymyr Oleksenko, and with the help of the director of the Myrhorod Junior High School Victoria Makushenko, local volunteers brought participants from various educational institutions to the football field, namely:

— Myrhorod gymnasium No. 2 (teacher — Oleksandr Matvienko);

— Petrovtsi Gymnasium (Mykola Sydorenko);

— Dibrivkiv gymnasium (Zhanna Hrytsovets);

— Zubiv educational complex (Olexandr Hryshko);

— Harkushin school (Vasyl Smyrny);

— Velikosorochyn School (Vitaly Krot).

It was important that "Open Soccer Lessons" also included components of psychological support and training in safe behavior in the conditions of war and its consequences — minimizing risks from explosive objects, mines, emergency situations, etc.

Local schools received a large amount of sports equipment and balls for football events, volunteers were equipped, and each child who participated in the football festival received a project t-shirt and a participant's diploma as a gift.

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All project activities are carried out in the regions in agreement with the regional military administrations.

The Ukrainian Football Association, with the support of Common Goal and the Association of Cross-Cultural Projects (Denmark), continues the "Open Football Lessons" project, which includes:

— psychosocial support for children of IDPs, children of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, children affected by war;

— unification and friendship of IDP children with local children, social integration;

— an inclusive environment, participants regardless of ability level, gender, as well as the participation of children with special educational needs;

— knowledge of security in conditions of war;

— the philosophy of mass football — the joy of the game instead of the result at any cost;

— education of a healthy lifestyle;

— development of volunteering;

— activation of local communities through cross-sectoral networks (teachers, trainers, psychologists, security specialists, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, patrons, etc.).

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