In Korosten on September 27 at the "Spartak" stadium, a festival called "Open Football Lessons" took place within the framework of the project by the Ukrainian Association of Football.

The event began with welcoming remarks from the mayor of Korosten, Volodymyr Moskalenko, who emphasized the importance of this project and wished participants success in acquiring knowledge through football lessons.

Photo JOAF

Students from general educational institutions in the Korosten region were greeted by the executive director of the Zhytomyr Oblast Association of Football and project coordinator, Ruslan Mayevskyi, who after the event presented each school with footballs from JOAF.

Photo JOAF

Football lessons in Korosten were conducted by young leaders and volunteers who underwent theoretical and practical training at youth hubs of the project earlier this spring.

Before the start of the event, young participants held a warm-up session, after which they divided into teams. Accordingly, the stadium was divided into six locations. Teams visited each location in turn.

Photo JOAF

The "Open Football Lessons" project by the Ukrainian Association of Football and regional associations, supported by the New Democracy Foundation (NDF), the Cross-Cultural Projects Association (CCPA) from Denmark, and UEFA is:

• psychosocial support for children of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, IDPs, and war-affected children;
• unity and friendship between IDP children and local children, social integration;
• inclusive environment where participants are involved regardless of their abilities, gender, as well as inclusion of children with special educational needs;
• safety knowledge in wartime conditions;
• philosophy of mass football - joy from playing rather than results at any cost;
• nurturing a healthy lifestyle;
• development of volunteering;
• activation of local communities through cross-sectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).

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