Vadym Kostyuchenko: "Open football lessons" fulfill an important mission of supporting children affected by the war"

31.10.2023 09:00

Photo of UAF press service

This year's season of the joint social project of the Ukrainian Football Association and regional associations "Open Football Lessons" is coming to an end.

Photo of UAF press service

The first vice-president of the Ukrainian Football Association, Vadym Kostyuchenko, sums up the interim results: "The main goal of this year's "Open Football Lessons" is psychosocial support for children of the armed forces, children of IDPs, and children affected by the war. According to the philosophy of UEFA grassroots football, we create an inclusive unifying environment for children, where they are involved regardless of ability level, gender, we also accept children with special educational needs. This is an important social mission that UAF has the honor to implement together with regional football associations and our partners.

Photo of UAF press service

The security component of the project, where children are given knowledge in an accessible game form to minimize risks from explosive objects, mines and war-related emergencies, is extremely relevant now.

In addition, the activation of local communities and the development of volunteerism are important in our project.

Photo of UAF press service

Activities with children were preceded by training of football volunteers at UAF seminars, in particular in Ivano-Frankivsk, where not only representatives of the regions, but also the best Ukrainian experts in physical culture and sports, psychology, security shared their experience.

Photo of UAF press service

This year, 30 communities in 18 regions of Ukraine successfully joined the project, organizing large football festivals and other physical culture and sports events inspired by them, held according to the project's methodology: competitions, lessons, section classes, sports and safety quests.

Photo of UAF press service

2300 children received vivid positive emotions from the game directly at football festivals and 12 — at other project events. Moreover, most of them had not played sports before, but showed such a desire after their participation in these events. We observed a large influx of girls into grassroots football who were getting to know the basics of the football game - they were about 000% of all participants.

Photo of UAF press service

And the communities received a large number of soccer balls, sports equipment and equipment, which is especially relevant for small towns and rural areas, where the project arouses great interest not only among boys and girls, but also among their families, local leaders of various levels, educational community, teachers and coaches, psychologists, youth leaders, caring local patrons - football fans."

Photo of UAF press service

Communities that accepted the project this year

In spring:

Vinnytsia region — Severynivka, Demkivka;

Zhytomyr Region — Lubar, Korosten;

Kyiv region - White Church;

Kirovohrad Region — Pervozvanivka, Oleksandrivka;

Poltava region — Myrhorod (2);

Cherkasy region — Zolotonosha, Kamianka;

Chernihiv region — Chernihiv (2).

In autumn:

Vinnytsia region — Cemetery;

Volyn region — Rozhyshche;

Dnipropetrovsk region — Slobozhanske;

Zhytomyr Region — Chernyakhiv;

Transcarpathian region — Bushtyno;

Ivano-Frankivsk region. — Valley;

Kyiv region — Kagarlyk, Fastivska TG;

Kirovohrad Region — Znamyanka;

Lviv region. — Drohobych;

Odesa region — Odesa;

Poltava region — Kovalivka of Poltava District;

Rivne region — Dubno;

Sumy region — Stepanivka, Sumy district;

Ternopil Region — Kotiv Saranchukivska TG;

Khmelnytskyi region — Nova Ushytsia;

Cherkasy region — Cherkassy;

Chernivtsi region — Yurkivtsi;

Chernihiv region — Nizhin.