The Ukrainian Football Association and regional associations in support of the Cross-Cultural Projects Organization and CISU ("Civil Society for Development") from Denmark within the framework of the donor program "Youth-Led Recovery and Resilience in Ukraine" continue to develop youth football hubs as part of the project «Open Football Festivals» across regions of Ukraine.

Photo courtesy of the UAF

We remind you that through these hubs, a network of youth leaders who have undergone special training by the UAF focuses their efforts on implementing their own volunteer football projects for children in their communities. They engage children who have not previously participated in sports through football, provide psychological support to war-affected children through their favorite game, and also teach children about mine safety.

Photo courtesy of the UAF

In December, young volunteers from the project planned the following activities at the hubs:

December 7th, 9th, 21st, and 27th — Vinnytsia Oblast, Tultchin city, DSUSS for orphans: football tournament among boys, "Football Quiz," visit to a friendly match Kyrnasyvka – Tultchin, viewing the film «Goal» with children.

December 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th — Volyn Oblast, Horyniv city, DSUSS: "St. Nicholas Cup" in football, "Football Hangouts with Footballers of Our Region," "Fun Football Games" with psychological training, "Christmas Football Party," and a "Sweet Cup" in football for children.

December 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd — Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Sinelnikove city, Lyceum No. 2: training sessions with a psychologist, "Fun Games," and a "Sweet Cup" in football for children.

December 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th — Zhytomyr Oblast, Ovruch city, DSUSS: football games to develop skills, joint viewing and analysis of children's and professional league matches with children, "Fun Football Games," and a technical training session.

December 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th — Zakarpattya Oblast, Berehove city, Stadium «Friendship»: four football sessions with a psychologist.

December 2nd, 6th, 23rd, and 29th — Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Olesya village, Lyceum: tournament in mini-football for children "Unity Cup," a sports celebration with football elements «Football Saint Nicholas», a "Sweet Cup" in mini-football for children before Christmas holidays, and a football New Year quest with psychological training.

Photo courtesy of the UAF

December 6th, 10th, 13th, and 23rd — Kyiv Oblast, Skvyra city, DSUSS: visit to a match in the Ukrainian Premier League «Kolos» – «Shakhtar," training sessions of football sections, friendly game with team «Zmina," and a "Football Quiz Final."

December 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th — Kropyvnytskyi city, Lyceum «Victoria-P» – viewing a match in the Ukrainian Premier League «Poltava» – «Kudryavka," fun football games for children with psychological relaxation, a "Sweet Cup" in football for children, and a tournament in football with elements of game technique «Christmas Football."

December 7th, 21st, 28th, and 31st — Lviv Oblast, Strilki village, Lyceum: a football tournament for children on St. Nicholas Day, trip with hub participants to the city of Lviv for the «Christmas Fair-2025," mini-football tournament for children «Christmas Star," and a New Year's football event «Sports Talents-2025» (contests, active games).

December 4th, 10th, 14th, and 18th — Odesa Oblast, Usatove village, Sports Complex «Khadjibey," Lyceum, Odesa city, NTB «Vidrada» – «Mini World Cup," joint viewing of the film «Goal" and playing table tennis with children, creative and fan event in the hub, event at NTB «Vidrada» dedicated to football refereeing.

December 7th, 13th, 20th, and 26th — Rivne Oblast, Gorodok village, Lyceum: viewing a match together with children «Metalist 1925» – «Veres," excursion to the stadium of FC «Veres," football session with a psychologist, meeting with players from FC «Veres."

December 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd — Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Dunayevetsky TSKH: training sessions at the Golozubynetsky Lyceum, Mushkutinsky Gymnasium, Zalizetsky Gymnasium, Ivanovetsky Lyceum.

Photo courtesy of the UAF

December 6th, 13th, 19th, and 26th — Cherkasy Oblast, Voznesenka village, school: viewing matches in the Ukrainian Premier League together with children LNZ – «Kudryavka," LNZ – «Obolon," football session with a psychologist, and a Christmas Cup in football for children.

December 2nd, 5th, 17th, and 19th — Chernivtsi Oblast, Novodnistrovsk city, DSUSS: two training sessions of the football section, «Football Brain Ring," and a Cool Games football quiz.

December 5th, 10th, 17th, and 22nd — Kyiv city, Kyiv State University named after B. Hryhorenko, Specialized School No. 271, Kyiv-Pechersk Lyceum No. 171 «Leader," Lyceum No. 176, and Lyceum No. 8: fun football activities for children on St. Nicholas Day, a "Sweet Cup" in football for children, «Exciting Sports Challenges» (master class by the student's football team), and a sports carnival with elements of football.

The Ukrainian Football Association project «Open Football Festivals» is:

• youth leadership in communities;
• psychosocial support for children of ZSU servicemen, children of 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 rather than results at any cost;
• cultivation of a healthy lifestyle;
• volunteerism development;
• activation of local communities through intersectoral networks (youth leaders, teachers, coaches, psychologists, safety experts, parents, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).