A football festival took place in Skvyra as part of the Ukrainian Football Association and Kyiv District Football Association project "Open Football Lessons."

Project leaders invite schoolchildren to participate in folk games, using dynamic exercises in a game format. Not only coaches and sports organizers but also psychologists and law enforcement officers professionally interact with children. Participants of the festival do not just learn the basics of football; they are involved in various everyday situations through corresponding training sessions.

Photo by KOAF

A bright football celebration took place this time in Skvyra. At the city's central stadium, over seventy children from Skvyra Lyceum No. 2 (teacher — O. Shevchun), local DYSK (coaches — T. Yevnitska, A. Khomjak, G. Khomjak) and FC "Orion" (coach — B. Lintsuk), Shyamraivsky Educational Complex (teachers — T. Severinenko, A. Lischenko-Gribnik) and Bila Tserkva Specialized School No. 19 (children with special educational needs from the inclusive football section, coach — V. Merkushev) gathered.

Photo by KOAF

The children and their mentors were warmly greeted by the secretary of Skvyra City Council Tetiana Vlasuk and the project coordinator from KOAF Volodymyr Maslov.

An interesting energetic musical performance for children by Gabriella Khomjak opened the event, followed by representatives of the local police department V. Natokhnyi and N. Chumak joining football sections to conduct informative yet useful briefings for the children, as well as a psychologist from Skvyra Lyceum No. 2 Kateryna Teleha.

Photo by KOAF

“This mass event made the children's weekend positive, new acquaintances and interests were formed, physical and psychological skills improved. Each coach and teacher showed that they work for the benefit of children, who are our future,”— noted Volodymyr Maslov.

Photo by KOAF

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

• psychosocial support for children of ZSU servicemen, internally displaced persons (IDP) children, and war-affected children;
• unification and friendship between IDP children and local children, social integration;
• inclusive environment where participants are involved regardless of their abilities, gender, as well as the 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;
• volunteer development;
• local community activation through intersectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, security experts, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, benefactors and others).

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