On October 25, children from the Novodnistrovska territorial community actively participated in a sports festival called "Open Football Festivals," organized with the support of the Ukrainian Football Association and the Chernivtsi Oblast Football Association.

The city mayor Natalia Tsimbalyuk and the recruitment department head of the Chernivtsi Border Guard Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Kardas, addressed the participants with welcoming words. The event was also attended by the head of the Main Department of DSNS in Chernivtsi Oblast, Valentin Budovitsky, and the acting head of the Dnister District DSNS department, Dmitry Bagriy.

Photo by AFCO

The festival brought together 72 children from the Novodnistrovska community, including children of servicemen and internally displaced persons from temporarily occupied territories. All participants received branded t-shirts, bracelets with the festival logo, sweets, and prizes from sponsors.

The community also received balls and modern sports equipment that will be useful for future football training sessions.
There was particular excitement over the arrival of rescuers from 16 DPRCH 1 DPRZ and GPRG, pyrotechnic unit, chemical department, canine unit of ARZ SP Main Department DSNS in Chernivtsi Oblast with equipment and gear, as well as representatives of the border service (Sokiriani) with their technical equipment.

Photo by AFCO

Throughout the festival, children had the opportunity to demonstrate their sports skills, and at the end of the event, each participant received a diploma signed by the head of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Shevchenko.

We sincerely thank the Ukrainian Football Association (national coordinator of the project - Yevheniy Stolitenko), Chernivtsi Oblast Football Association (regional coordinator of the project - Oleksandr Plakhov), head of the oblast professional union of energy workers and energy industry workers, Georgiy Karpu, deputy of Novodnistrovska City Council Sergiy Boychuk, Novodnistrovska City Council, youth and sports department of Novodnistrovska City Council, KU "Novodnistrovska DYSKh", employees of OCNP "Chernivtsi Oblast Emergency Medical Care and Medical Catastrophe Center," employees of VPU No. 1 (Sokiriani) Dnister District Police Department of GU National Police in Chernivtsi Oblast - for their help in organizing the event, as well as coordinator Vasyl Shevchuk - for providing an excellent opportunity to participate in such a significant social project that brings children together around sports.

Photo by AFCO

Sincere thanks to assistants, volunteers, coaches and everyone involved in organizing the event.

Thank you to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to hold events and sports competitions.

The Ukrainian Football Association's "Open Football Festivals" project is:

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of ZSU servicemen, children of internally displaced persons, and children affected by the war;
• uniting and friendship among IDP children and local children, social integration;
• an inclusive environment where everyone participates, including children with special educational needs;
• knowledge of safety in wartime conditions;
• the philosophy of mass football - joy from playing rather than results at any cost;
• cultivation of a healthy lifestyle;
• volunteer development;
• activation of local communities through cross-sector networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).