The Ukrainian Association of Football has launched Ukraine’s first-ever children’s amputee football camp as part of the “League of the Brave” project. The camp is taking place from 7 to 11 August in Deliatyn and brings together 15 children aged 5 to 13 from five regions of Ukraine who have limb amputations or an impairment affecting the function of one of their limbs.
The camp has brought together children from different parts of the country, including Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi. The participants come from both regional centres and smaller towns and villages, including Zarvantsi and Pysarivka in the Vinnytsia region and Yabluniv in the Ternopil region. The youngest participant, Marharyta, has just turned five.
The project is implemented by the Ukrainian Association of Football as part of the “League of the Brave” social project dedicated to the development of amputee football, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine through the Development Cooperation and Democracy Support Programme.
The camp opened with a gathering of all participants, during which the “League of the Brave” team — coaches, psychologists and a doctor — met each family personally. The participants also watched a video message from Andriy Shevchenko.
“Football proves that anything is possible if you truly love what you do. Over the next five days, you will discover the world of amputee football. Training sessions, team games, excursions and time to relax in the heart of the Carpathians are all ahead of you. Football also has a powerful ability to bring people together. So I wish you to make new friends. And I hope that some of you will fall in love with football as passionately as I have!” — UAF President Andriy Shevchenko addressed the young participants.
An Individual Approach from Day One
Even before the training sessions began, the camp doctor met individually with each child to assess their condition and prepare a training programme tailored to their individual needs. After getting acquainted, the children and their parents also met separately with the camp psychologists.
“Football should be accessible to everyone — without exceptions. That is why we launched ‘League of the Brave: Children’ and are holding Ukraine’s first-ever children’s amputee football camp. For these 15 children from different parts of the country, this is the first step towards a new sport, new opportunities, new friendships and growth through football. We want every child to feel supported, believe in their own abilities and know that there is a place for everyone in football,” says Olena Balbek, UAF Director of Strategic Development and Sustainability and CEO of the UAF Foundation.
“We have long dreamed of creating a space where children can be themselves through football. The first children’s amputee football camp is the beginning of that story. We want every child to make new friends here, gain new experiences and understand that an entire journey in this sport is open to them,” said Bohdan Melnyk, “League of the Brave” Development Manager.
Programme
Over the five-day camp, participants will take part in two training sessions each day led by two coaches — one working with outfield players and the other with goalkeepers. The programme also includes daily sessions with psychologists, held separately for children and adults, as well as leisure activities and free time to relax.
Благодійна організація “Благодійний фонд “Фундація УАФ” є неприбутковою, недержавною організацією, засновником якою виступає Громадська Спілка “Українська Асоціація Футболу”
Політика конфіденційності
