National Social Project "Open Football Festivals", implemented by the Ukrainian Association of Football in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, has successfully contributed to the development of mass children's football across the country for over 13 years.

The latest stage of this project took place in the village of Progress in Chernihiv Oblast, on the local community stadium.

Photo by COAF

The festival brought together 72 children from Progress, Chemer and Novy Shliakh — boys and girls who study in the schools of Kiptivsky Territorial Community. All participants received branded t-shirts as a memento of their participation, which not only provided emotions but also valuable football skills.

In addition to active student participation, educational institutions in the community received balls and modern sports equipment from organizers that will be used during future football lessons.

Photo by COAF

The event was visited by the first deputy head of the Chernihiv Oblast Football Association, Serhiy Datsenko and the deputy head, regional manager of UAF for organizing festivals Anatoliy Svystun. In their address to participants, they conveyed greetings from the head of COAF Roman Soldarenko, who sees one of the priority directions in developing football in Chernihiv Oblast as children's and youth football, creating conditions for quality training and engaging children in football activities, as well as highlighting the high level of organization and importance of the social component of this project that unites children of different ages around a game played by millions.

Photo by COAF

Local coordinator of the festival, Bohdan Zhuman, as well as a coaching team consisting of Anna Hubanovych, Alina Sydorchuk, Bohdan Savenko and Tetiana Zhuman joined in conducting training sessions. They were assisted by representatives of the National Police and a psychologist.

Photo by COAF

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

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