A large charity event in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Unity for Victory" took place in Kostriно village, bringing together children and adults from various regions of Ukraine.

At the invitation of the head of the Kostriно Village Council, Vasyl Cherewka, the youth hub of the Zakarpattya Football Association organized an "Open Football Festival" for over 200 children aged 4 to 16.

The event included children from Kostriно and Stavnianka communities as well as more than 100 boys and girls from Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions who were affected by the full-scale war. They are undergoing a 10-day psychotherapeutic rehabilitation at the "Children's Lucky Land" camp located in the health resort complex "Krasia," thanks to the charitable fund "Happy Child's Land."

Photo ZAF

At the ceremonial opening of the event, Vasyl Cherewka, head of ZAF Ivan Duran, and the chief of border service in Great Bereznyi Mykola Nizovets addressed participants with welcoming words. In addition to volunteers in traditional football, safety, and psychological locations, representatives of the Great Bereznyi border service also participated, introducing children to their work.

Photo ZAF

At the conclusion, girls and boys received participation diplomas and gifts from Kostriно community and ZAF, while all schools received footballs from the Ukrainian Football Association. The Zakarpattya Football Association expresses gratitude to local community representatives for their hospitality as well as to Vasyl Khmelnytskyi and TM "Vishkovo" for mineral water "Carpathian Power."

Photo ZAF

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

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of Armed Forces of Ukraine servicemen, children of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and children affected by the war;
• 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 rather than results at any cost;
• cultivation of a healthy lifestyle;
• volunteer development;
• activation of local communities through cross-sectoral networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, security experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).