On September 28 in the city of Horokhiv at the "Kolos" stadium, open football festivals were held, organized with the support of the Ukrainian Football Association and the Volyn Football Association, during which children from the Horokhiv community, along with festive mood and a desire to lead an active lifestyle, received equipment for further practice in their favorite sport.

Photo gorokhivrada.gov.ua

In August, community volunteers — coaches of the local Children's Sports School named after O. Balamut, Vitaliy Hryasychuk and Yurii Loskutov — participated in a seminar organized by the UAF. Thanks to the knowledge they gained and their joint work with other volunteers directly involving the KDSHS, they managed to organize this festival.

Before the start of the event, all participants and guests honored fallen Ukrainian heroes with a moment of silence. The head of the humanitarian department Vladimir Zinchuk, deputy head of the humanitarian department — head of the education department Tetiana Nychyporuk, and director of the KDSHS named after O. Balamut Galyna Pryk, head of the civic organization "Sun of Love," in their speeches highlighted the importance of holding such festivals and emphasized the great significance of physical education for children.

Photo gorokhivrada.gov.ua

An interesting sports event unfolded at six locations, namely:

— football pitches for playing and conducting various game and technical activities (four locations);

— a safety awareness area run by DSNSS staff where students learned about the rules of behavior with explosive hazards;

— an area with a psychologist who taught children emotional resilience and communication.

Photo gorokhivrada.gov.ua

The celebration concluded with a solemn awarding of diplomas to the participants and the provision of sports equipment, which will certainly be useful for future champions.

Horokhiv community expresses sincere gratitude to the UAF and AFAV for material support and hopes for further cooperation.

The "Open Football Festivals" project of the Ukrainian Football Association is:

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of ZSU servicemen, IDPs, and war-affected children;
• unity and friendship among children from IDP areas and local children, social integration;
• an inclusive environment where everyone participates, including children with special educational needs;
• safety knowledge in wartime conditions;
• the philosophy of mass football — joy from playing instead of results at any cost;
• cultivation of a healthy lifestyle;
• volunteering development;
• activation of local communities through cross-sector networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, local authorities, patrons, etc.).