The National Project "Open Football Festivals", implemented by the Ukrainian Association of Football in partnership with Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science, is successfully contributing to the development of mass children's football across the country. The latest event within this project took place in Kudryvtsi, at one of Chernihiv region’s best stadiums.

Photo by CHOAF

The festival brought together 72 children from the villages of Spasivka and Kudryvtsi, including children of military servicemen and internally displaced persons from temporarily occupied territories. They received a true sports celebration with football, cheerleading, fun relay races, and contests. As a souvenir for the event that not only provided emotions but also valuable football skills, all participants received branded t-shirts, while winners at each location received memorable gifts from the Chernihiv Oblast Football Association.

Photo by CHOAF

In turn, educational institutions received balls and modern sports equipment that will be useful for future football classes.

Photo by CHOAF

Among the guests were First Deputy Head of the Chernihiv Oblast Football Association, Serhiy Datsenko; Deputy Head of CHOAF and regional manager for UAF festival organization Anatoliy Svystun; Head of Sosnitska Tetyra Andrii Portnyi; and regional manager of "Open Football Festivals" Tetiana Zhuman. In their addresses to the participants, they highlighted the high level of organization and the importance of the social component of the project that unites children of different ages around a million-person game. They also conveyed greetings from CHOAF Head Roman Solodarenko, who constantly emphasizes: his most important direction is the development of children's football in Chernihiv region.

Photo by CHOAF

A special buzz was caused by the arrival of a distinguished guest—Chernihiv football graduate, former player of "Desna," and now player of FC Kudryvtsi Denis Bezborodko. He greeted festival participants, signed autographs, and happily posed for photos with children.

"Open Football Festivals" in Kudryvtsi once again demonstrated that football is not just a sport but also a powerful tool for nurturing and developing youth.

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

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of military servicemen, IDPs, and war-affected children;
• uniting and friendship among children from IDP areas 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-sector networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, security experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).