Football is the most popular and widespread sport in the world, with an extraordinary unifying and healing power.
Leveraging the power of football and a strong national and global community, the UAF Foundation implements social projects.
Adaptive Football
Football has always been nearby: on the playground by the house, during school lessons, and with groups of friends. No matter how far fate takes you, your favorite game remains within a kick’s distance. And now, when battlefields have replaced football fields for many, it is still present in military camps, hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, and civilian life. It invites you to play.
This direction focuses on supporting and reintegrating people with amputations and other conditions into football and active life. Today, amid the full-scale invasion, the number of such individuals is unfortunately increasing, presenting new challenges and forcing thousands to learn to live differently. The goal of the UAF Foundation is to support existing initiatives and create new ones aimed at promoting inclusion and integration into society, physical and psychological rehabilitation, and the reintegration of people with disabilities into active life.
Up to 3,000,000 people with disabilities live in Ukraine
data from the Ministry of Social Policy as of 09/2023
Since 2022, the number of people with disabilities has increased by 300,000
data from the Ministry of Social Policy as of 09/2023
The number of people with amputations comprises up to 150,000
projected data based on the number of surgeries performed in 2022-2023
The Ukrainian national team with amputations participated in the 2024 EAFF European Championship
Women score goals just as well as men, and the Ukrainian women’s national team achieves victories on the field. It’s time to break stereotypes and to support those who respect the game and lead our team to victory.
UAFF focuses on projects that promote gender equality in sports, support women in football, and popularize the sport among girls.
Women’s Football
In Ukraine, there are over 9,404 female footballers. In Germany — 190,000, in France — 140,000, and in Spain - 60,000
according to UEFA report, 2021-2023
Views of women's team match broadcasts total 20,000, while men's — 185,000 views.
Season 2022/2023, Premier League
The record for the most matches played for the Ukrainian national team belongs to Daria Apanaschenko, who has played 149 matches
Grassroots football
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Ukrainian children don’t have another time but now to develop their talents. The war shouldn’t take away their chance to learn their favorite game. After all, the key to playing football is desire, and we must support it.
Providing children with equal access to football, establishing new and supporting existing children’s and youth teams, creating favorable conditions for the game as a meaningful leisure, enhancing the skills of young footballers, and training young players are key priorities in the Foundation’s work in this area.
Children from frontline areas have spent between 3,000 to 5,000 hours, or 4 to 7 months, in shelters
since February 24, 2022 (UNICEF)
In Ukraine, over 330,000 children aged 8 to 14 are involved in football
According to UAF
Recovery of sport infrastructure
Ukraine is still experiencing the war, which has resulted in the destruction of not only military but also a significant number of civilian facilities, including sports infrastructure. Many stadiums, sports halls, and modern sports centers have been destroyed by enemy shelling. In this area, the Foundation will engage in projects aimed at restoring sports infrastructure and will also strive to equip these facilities with the necessary sports equipment and inventory.
Over 500 sports infrastructure facilities have been damaged by bombings and missile strikes from Russia
Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine
In certain regions of Ukraine, over 60% of sports infrastructure has been destroyed
Kherson City Administration
77 stadiums, 102 sports bases and sports schools, and 174 sports halls have been damaged
according to Tribuna.com
Our team
Olena Balbek, CEO
Maryna Kozlova, operations manager
Alina Sandul, PR
Anna Radchenko, accountant
Partners and sponsors
The charitable organization 'Charitable Foundation UAF Foundation' is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded by the Public Union 'Ukrainian Association of Football.
Privacy Policy
The onset of the full-scale invasion forced many Ukrainians to leave their homes and familiar lives, change their place of residence, and rebuild their daily routines from scratch.
UAFF directs its efforts in assisting those affected by the war towards easing their adaptation to new conditions, restoring psychological balance, creating strong social connections, and finding new ways to overcome difficulties through sport.
Social support
The number of internally and repeatedly displaced persons has reached 3,600,000
Ministry of Social Policy
Ukraine has recorded 4,900,000 internally displaced persons
Ministry of Social Policy
43% of internally displaced persons face significant challenges integrating into their new places of residence
International Organization for Migration (IOM) report, October 2023