Social and psychological support for children affected by the war and IDPs through football was organized in Kirovohrad region by the Ukrainian Football Association, Kirovohrad Regional Football Association, Kirovohrad Regional Council, and the community of Oleksandriya.

Seventy-two children from Oleksandriya Ternary School and other regions of Ukraine who were forced to move due to the war participated in "Open Football Lessons." The sports event lasted for two days. On the first day, the children happily went through six different game, psychological, and safety stations staffed with volunteers, and on the second day they played for the "Sweet Cup."

Photo by KOAF

The joyful football festival format, in which every child became a champion, attracted the attention of event guests — heads of Kirovohrad Regional Council Yurii Drizda, People's Deputy of Ukraine Ihor Mudryi, Oleksandriya village head Oleksandr Bezpechnyi, deputy of Kropyvnytskyi district council and president of FC "Tyasmin" Oleksandr Kovtun, head of the Kirovohrad Regional Football Association Viktor Bezmertnyi, and national coordinator of the project from UAF Yevhenii Stolitenko.

Photo by KOAF

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

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

— social and psychological support for IDP children, children of military personnel, and children affected by war;

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

— an inclusive environment where participants are independent of their abilities, gender, as well as the participation of children with special educational needs;

— knowledge about safety in wartime conditions;

— 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 cross-sector networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, youth leaders, local government, patrons, etc.).