Social and psychological football events of the «Open Football Lessons» project are ongoing in Chernihiv for children from communities severely affected by the war.

The organization of a football festival in Chernihiv at the «Youth» stadium was provided by the Ukrainian Football Association, the Chernihiv Oblast Football Association, and the local community. This time, children from Bрусилов, Snovyanok, Sedneve, Kiyinka, Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky, Pakul, Trisviatska Sloboda participated. Positive football-psychological support was provided by the oblast coordinator of the project from COAF Anatoliy Svystun, project instructor Tetiana Dzhuman, local volunteers Oleksiy Melnychenko, Rodion Tolkaev, Olena Khomenko, Natalia Bogulya, Oleksandr Prokopenko, Bohdan Dzhuman, as well as national coordinator of the UAF Yevhenii Stolitenko.

Photo COAF

It was important that «Open Football Lessons», in addition to fun football and psychological support, also included training on safe behavior during wartime and its aftermath — minimizing risks from explosive hazardous items, mines, emergencies, etc.

Local schools received a large amount of sports equipment and balls for conducting football events; volunteers were equipped, and each child who participated received a project t-shirt and a participant certificate as a gift.

All project events are held in regions with the approval of oblast military administrations.

Photo COAF

The Ukrainian Football Association, supported by Common Goal and the Association for Cross-Cultural Projects (Denmark), continues the «Open Football Lessons» project, which includes:

— social-psychological support for children of internally displaced persons (IDPs), children of military personnel, and those affected by the war;

— uniting and friendship between IDP children and local children, social integration;

— an inclusive environment, involving participants regardless of their abilities, gender, as well as participation of children with special educational needs;

— knowledge about safety in wartime conditions;

— the philosophy of mass football — joy from playing instead of results at any cost;

— fostering a healthy lifestyle;

— development of volunteering;

— activation of local communities through intersectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, patrons and others).