Every year on June 1st in Ukraine, Children's Day is celebrated. Symbolically, it was exactly on this day that the joint project "Beside" of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and UNICEF started at two locations in Ternopil Oblast with the aim of providing psychosocial support to children, youth, and families affected by the war.

The sports component of the project is being implemented by the charitable fund "Development of Football in Ukraine" in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) with the support of UEFA's Children's Fund.

Activities for toddlers and teenagers took place in Ternopil (at TSCH No. 29 stadium) and Kremenets (at the sports complex of Volodymyr Vynnyk Lyceum) with the participation of over fifty children from regions of Ukraine where military operations are ongoing or have recently ended. Among local participants were children from large families, those in need, and children of ATO/OS veterans.

Photos by UAF press service

In Ternopil, the young participants of the "Beside" project were greeted by First Deputy Head and Executive Director of the Football Association of Ternopil Oblast Vasyl Mykolayovych Zatorskyi and Director of Specialized School No. 29 in Ternopil Anatoliy Vasylovych Yatyschuk. The young participants received gifts from organizers and partners.

Photos by UAF press service

During the activities, children were divided into three groups and worked simultaneously at three locations where they interacted with coaches, psychologists, and medical professionals who had previously undergone specialized training. Specifically, in Ternopil District, the coordinator is Head of the Children's and Youth Football Association of Ternopil Oblast Volodymyr Yasuchenya; in Kremenets — coach and lecturer Roman Klak, head coach of the adult Kremenets team "Profi-Agro"; and in Chortkiv — coach and lecturer Sergei Skaliy, head coach of Chortkiv's "Crystal-U-19."

Photos by UAF press service

These were the first sessions planned in three districts of Ternopil Oblast. The project will continue throughout the summer. In addition to Ternopil Oblast, "Beside" will take place in Lviv, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, and Volyn Oblasts, as well as later it will include children living in the Zhytomyr region.