A ceremony honoring the winners of the "Start Playing" program took place at the House of Football — a joint initiative by the Ukrainian FA Foundation and VBet Foundation.

Nine of the strongest football projects from all over Ukraine received certificates for financial support to realize their ideas. The total funding amount for this year's stage of the program is 2,000,000 UAH.

During the award ceremony, CEO of the Ukrainian FA Foundation Olena Balbek emphasized: "Reviewing all applications, we seemed to live a separate small life of each project. 'Start Playing' was born from the belief that the strength of the country also forms through local communities. Our common task is to create an enabling environment together with the UAF, foundation, and partners for the most diverse initiatives to develop."

Photo: Dan Balashov

President of VBet Foundation Kateryna Mashyvska added: "Football is not just a game. It's a way to be together. We created 'Start Playing' to tell you that we see you, we are with you — and we are ready to support not only slogans but also concrete work."

Photo: Dan Balashov

Certificates were received by nine winning projects that will soon be brought to life. Among them:

— "Together on the Field" from DFK "Bereznyaki" (Kyiv) — 500,000 UAH. An inclusive football group for children with various physical, mental, and social characteristics that creates a space of equality and emotional support;

— "Dream Club — Football for Life" (Rivne/Gostomel) — 371,000 UAH. An innovative sports mentoring program for children affected by the war, where coaches-mentors will work as psychological counselors;

— "Girls Should Play Football" (Dnipropetrovsk region) — 350,000 UAH. A championship among girls' teams that uses football as a tool for integration and development of girls during difficult times;

— "We Will Restore the Material-Technical Base Together" (Kharkiv region) — 257,600 UAH. A project to restore the material-technical base of a sports facility damaged by shelling that will allow restoring training processes and conditions for competitions;

Photo: Dan Balashov

— installation of an electronic scoreboard at the Ivan Franko National University stadium (Lviv) — 158,269 UAH. Infrastructure improvement that is a crucial step for developing youth and children's football in Lviv;

— "Emerald Lawn" (Ternopil region) — 140,079 UAH. The project involves purchasing a mini-tractor-lawn mower to maintain football fields, which is an important part of the rehabilitation process for veterans through participation in amputee football within the "League of Giants";

— "Playing Gear — Faith in Victory" (Druzhkivka, Pokrovsk, Myrnyhrod) — 86,500 UAH. Three teams from frontline communities will receive new gear to continue training and participate in competitions;

— "10 Locations — 3000 Participants" (Odessa) — 52,000 UAH. A project that involves updating football equipment for over 10 locations in the city and allows organizing tournaments for 3000 children and amateurs;

— "Kuzuba Cup" — 50,000 UAH. A tournament in memory of a fallen soldier and football activist who revived a football team in Sencha village in 2011 and died last year while performing his duty.

The "Start Playing" program launched this spring with the aim of supporting local football initiatives that continue to operate despite the challenges of war. A total of 171 applications were submitted from all over Ukraine, indicating how acutely the need for such support is felt during wartime and how important these initiatives are for local communities.

Photo: Dan Balashov

The expert panel of the program included prominent representatives of Ukrainian football and culture:

— Vice President of UAF, head coach of Ukraine's national football team Serhiy Rebrov;

— Head coach of FC "Polissya" Ruslan Rotan;

— Soloist of the TNMK band, writer, and author of the official track for Ukraine's national football team "Together We Are Stronger" Fozzy;

— President of VBet Foundation Kateryna Mashyvska;

— Former player of Ukraine's national football team, football expert Dmytro Boyko;

— Sports journalist and host of MEGOGO Oleksandra Kucherenko;

— Master of Sport International Class, vice-champion of Europe and world champion in beach soccer Anastasiia Klipachenko.