The first events of this year's traditional nationwide social-sports project "Open Football Lessons" took place in Lviv Oblast, supported by UEFA and organized jointly by the Lviv Football Association and the Drohobych District Football Association.

This mass event gathered over seventy children at Ivan Bobersky Children's and Youth Sports School in Drohobych — students of the Drohobytska Territorial Community (Lyceum No. 1 named after Ivan Franko, Lyceum No. 2, Lyceum No. 3 named after Vyacheslav Chornovil, Lyceum No. 4 named after Lesya Ukrainka, Gymnasium No. 10 named after Yevhen Konovalets, Gymnasium No. 17, Lyceum No. 16 named after Yuri Drohobych, Stebnytske Lyceum No. 7, Derezhivska Gymnasium, Lishniansky Educational and Development Complex I-III stages, Medvezhanivska Gymnasium named after Mykhailo Bylas) as well as children of forcibly displaced persons from Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.

All of them participated in six thematic squares where they not only relaxed in the fresh air but also received a charge of energy and useful information about important things.

Photo by LAF

Volunteer coaches — students from the Faculty of Human Health and Natural Sciences at Drohobytska State Pedagogical University Nazar Bilikivskyi, Artem Zakharchov, Vladyslav Koz, Mykhailo Orlyak, Olha Radelitska, Olha Boyko, Vladyslav Dranovskyi, Dmytro Kopelcyv, Valentyn Buryanik, Roman Torok, Andriy Yavorskyi, Taras Hnatyiv, Ostap Pavliak — organized various fun games and relays for the children using balls, hoops, cones, sticks, jump ropes, and a rope. During these activities, the children had an opportunity to learn elements of football techniques.

Children were particularly interested in the safety square where employees of the State Emergency Service and police taught them rules for safe behavior during wartime through interesting, educational game formats. They also learned from qualified specialists how to strengthen their health, immunity, and proper nutrition.

The event began with a blessing by Father Rostyslav Melykh and an energetic warm-up organized by representatives of the FitCurves fitness club Maria Puzur and Lyubov Luzetska.

Photo by LAF

At the end, children received sports equipment, commemorative medals, and T-shirts from the Ukrainian Football Association as a gift from the coordinator of "Open Football Lessons" in Lviv Oblast, Executive Director of the Lviv Football Association Stepan Poniaid, his deputy Andriy Smolyskyi, Mayor of Drohobych Taras Kuchma, Deputy Mayor of Drohobych for humanitarian and social affairs Yurii Kushlik, Head of Education Department of Drohobytska City Council Roman Hrytsai, Chairman of the Drohobytske District Football Association Stepan Luzetskyi, and his deputy Roman Prots.

We express sincere gratitude to the Drohobytske City Council, the Drohobytske District Football Association, Director of Ivan Bobersky Children's and Youth Sports School in Drohobych Mykhailo Hordynskyi, parents of children, and everyone who contributed to this large-scale social-sports event!

Photo by LAF

The Ukrainian Football Association and oblast football associations' project "Open Football Lessons," supported by UEFA, is:

• psychosocial support for children of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, IDPs, and those affected by war;
• unity and friendship among children of IDPs with local children, social integration;
• inclusive environment where participants are independent of their abilities, gender, as well as participation of children with special educational needs;
• safety knowledge in wartime conditions;
• philosophy of mass football — joy from playing instead of results at any cost;
• nurturing a healthy lifestyle;
• fostering volunteerism;
• activating local communities through cross-sector networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).

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