September 25 on the artificial turf field of Kyiv's NTI named after V. Bannikov, the Ukrainian Football Association held an "Open Football Festival" dedicated to UEFA's Week of Mass Football.

It should be noted that the project "Open Football Festivals" provides psychosocial support for children affected by war through mass football. This is football for everyone, regardless of ability level and gender.

The opening ceremony was attended by Igor Dedishin, Technical Director of the Ukrainian Football Association, and Elena Timoshenko, a professor and doctor of sciences representing the Institute of Educational Content Modernization at Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science.

Photo: Dan Balashov

" One of the main priorities of the Ukrainian Football Association's activities is the development of mass football, including the project 'Open Football Festivals'. Through such projects, we aim to involve as many children as possible in football. Today will be your first step towards a great football family. We want football to become part of your life and help you develop as individuals." — Igor Dedishin emphasized.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Six teams participated in the project, each led by top volunteer coaches:

— Team #1 under the leadership of senior lecturer Olena Hatsko from Kyiv's Borys Grinchenko University;

— Team #2 under the leadership of physical education teacher Yuliia Shostal from Gymnasium No. 110 in Kyiv;

— Team #3 under the leadership of Vadim Kysil, a teacher at Academic Lyceum No. 47 in Kyiv;

— Team #4 under the leadership of Natalia Velykanova, physical education teacher at Lyceum No. 176;

— Team #5 under the leadership of Natalia Ryabokon, a physical education teacher at Kyiv-Pechersk Lyceum 'Leader';

— Team #6 under the leadership of Natalia Droh, a teacher at Lyceum No. 112.

Photo: Dan Balashov

The festival included six sports locations where volunteer coaches conducted interesting developmental games and football master classes. The mascot of the project, Patron Dog, helped children move from one location to another.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Interestingly, before the football part began, those interested visited activities with face painting.

It should be added that the Ukrainian Football Association presented all participants with gifts: festival t-shirts and caps, souvenirs and diplomas, as well as footballs and sports equipment for schools.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Information about the project

The Ukrainian Football Association's "Open Football Festivals" project is being implemented to provide psychosocial support for children affected by war, children of military personnel, and children from displaced persons' families, regardless of ability level or gender.

Last year, events within the framework of the project were held in 21 regions of Ukraine. Football festivals brought together 41 communities from different corners of Ukraine. Directly at the festivals, 3000 children participated, and overall in the project — over 19,000. Among them were 4500 girls, 6000 children who found themselves in difficult life circumstances due to war, 4000 children from displaced persons' families as a result of war, 1000 children with special educational needs or disabilities, and 2000 orphans or children from incomplete families.

Photo: Dan Balashov

"Open Football Festivals" is also:

— youth leadership in communities;

— unity and friendship between children from displaced persons' families and local children, social integration;

— a joyful inclusive environment;

— knowledge of safety during wartime;

— the philosophy of mass football — joy from playing rather than results at any cost;

— fostering healthy lifestyles;

— development of volunteering;

— activation of local communities to help children through youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, security experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, and others.

Photo: Dan Balashov

In our project, the football field becomes a unique center of community unity thanks to love for football and children.

The format of the project includes not only pure football activities but also developmental fun games, socialization and unification games, healthy lifestyle squares, psychological and safety ones, where children and parents receive extremely relevant knowledge about safe behavior in wartime conditions and its consequences — minimizing risks from explosive hazardous items, mines, emergencies, etc.

Photo: Dan Balashov

After the festivals are held, regular sports activities for psychosocial support of children (including those with disabilities and special educational needs) are initiated, as well as regular football sections.