The event was held on European Football Day in the city of Vinnytsia, which takes place within the framework of European Football Week. The sports stadium of the Vinnytsia City Palace of Children and Youth named after Lyla Ratushna hosted nearly 150 participants. These were children of internally displaced persons and members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, children affected by the war, and children from families in need of social support. The event was organized by the Vinnytsia Oblast Football Association in cooperation with the NGO "Sports Youth of Vinnytsia," the Ukrainian Football Association, UEFA Foundation for Children, Cross Cultures (Denmark), with the support of the mayor of Vinnytsia, Serhiy Morgunov, and the city council.

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The goal of the project is to unite children, give them a sense of security and joy from communication and playing football.

Before the event began, Deputy Mayor Andriy Ocheretny welcomed young athletes on behalf of the community leader and noted that this project was taking place in Vinnytsia for the first time.

"You are Ukraine's future! I wish you to defend Ukraine on sports fields around the world one day. And may the Ukrainian flag be raised only with victory!" said Andriy Ocheretny.

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The main task of the project is to protect and provide psychological support to children affected by the war, noted the head of the Vinnytsia Oblast Football Association, Igor Gatullin: "Due to the war, we decided that this event would be aimed at supporting children because they are our future. During such lessons, children gather together and learn behavior rules in life in general and on the sports field specifically."

And Pavlo Formanyuk, a representative of the Vinnytsia OAF, reported that the event was held during European Football Week: "The main goal is to unite children and give them a good mood."

After the ceremonial part, 144 children came onto the field - all in exclusive football shirts and caps. They were greeted by teachers and volunteers who helped organize the football activities.

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Children were united into 12 teams based on the number of sectors, which the football field was conditionally divided into and had to be visited in turn.

At each mini-field, participants were met by volunteer coaches. They shared secrets of the game, introduced them to exercises for accuracy and quick thinking, organized competitions, various games, and contests. As they traveled around the football field, children also encountered two unusual sectors - a psychologist's and a police officer's. The first invited them to participate in psychological discussions, while the second explained how to behave properly during wartime and its aftermath, emphasizing on minimizing risks from explosive hazards, mines, emergency situations, etc.

"It was interesting to hear about mine danger when the police officers talked," said one of the project participants, 12-year-old Andriy. "Also, I really liked the ball exercises. We learned tricks, passed the ball from hand to hand, over heads and legs." The boy admitted that he had never attended football classes before.

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Both children and their parents say they felt like they were at a real sports festival. Daria Kapkanets with her two sons evacuated to Vinnytsia from Zaporizhzhya Oblast. The boys played football back home, she said, so they gladly accepted the opportunity to attend such an unusual open lesson. "At the event, children found new friends, had fun and gained invaluable experience," Daria reported.

After the completion of the activities, young participants were greeted with pleasant surprises. Each child was given a football shirt, cap, and participation diploma.

Next, the social project "Open Football Lessons" will continue in two more locations in the region - Kalinivka and Khmilnyk.