Within the framework of the Ukrainian Football Association's project "Open Football Festivals," nearly 100 volunteers from 18 regions of Ukraine underwent training in Kyiv under a donor program called "Restoration and Resilience Led by Youth in Ukraine."

The youth leadership program covered two seminars over the course of a week. The first to participate were representatives from Volyn, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi regions. Following them, participants included representatives from Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Poltava, Cherkasy, Chernihiv regions, and the city of Kyiv.

Photo by UAF press service

The seminars were opened by the Technical Director of the UFA, Igor Dedishin, and the Head of Mass Sports Department at the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine, Stanislav Kovalevsky.

The program was presented by Deputy Head of Amateur and Mass Football Division at the UAF, Eugene Stolitenko; Deputy Director of the Institute of Content Modernization at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Galyna Komoyets; and top national experts—Olena Timoshenko, Tetiana Malychko, Lianna Kopilova, Vitaliy Titaryuk, Serhiy Chesheyko, Yuriy Lutsenko, and Oleksii Lazarenko.

Photo by UAF press service

Organizers from communities and youth leaders familiarized themselves with the concept and specifics of organizing the project, as well as special content for activities within the project (regarding children's development and interaction, fun games, football games, and technical exercises). In addition, they received innovative materials on the psychological support component of the project and on safety and child protection in football, providing knowledge to minimize risks from explosive hazards, mines, and emergency situations related to war.

Photo by UAF press service

Key themes of all sessions included the youth leadership program, motivation for participation in mass football, qualities of a good coach, the importance of values, effective communication, and mental health support.

Photo by UAF press service

Participants learned to analyze opportunities, assess resources and risks, communicate and work as young leaders, set SMART goals, and plan activities. Presentations from regions regarding the exchange of experiences in implementing mass children's football projects were also important.

Photo by UAF press service

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

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of military personnel, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and war-affected children;
• unity 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 instead of results at any cost;
• cultivation of a healthy lifestyle;
• volunteer development;
• activation of local communities through intersectoral networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).