Archives des Children dreams

Dreams can come true: that is what we’re here for!

We strive to make the impossible possible and provide an unforgettable experience for children, especially those living with serious or long-lasting illnesses.

After two years without being able to take our little fans to the stadiums, the UEFA Foundation was able to resume its wish-maker programme. Once again, we could count on our partner Etoile filante / Sternschuppe and the active support of UEFA's volunteer workforce, known as wish-makers, to fulfil new football dreams.

The UEFA Foundation is delighted to fulfil youngsters’ wildest dreams, letting them meet football stars and watching a high-profile match with their favourite team. This unique experience is shared with their families and gives them incredible shared souvenirs. During the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, five dreams came true, and others are on their way in the spring.

We look forward to bringing joy to the hearts of even more children!

Two thoughts make me extremely happy and proud to act as a wish-maker. Seeing the face of a sick child and their family light up when their dream becomes reality and they finally meet their favourite player or team.

These moments are incredibly precious for the family, and the memories and photos live on for years and help them through difficult times. It is so heart-warming to see the lengths to which everybody involved is prepared to go so that the child has an unforgettable experience: our UEFA venue team, the people from the club, the players… all work together towards this one goal.

- Bettina Mamie, UEFA wish-maker

UEFA Europa League player mascots dressed by Engelbert Strauss

Kits made in the new Engelbert Strauss factory in Bangladesh

For the 2021/22 football season, Strauss became the official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. Europe’s leading workwear brand is preparing to unveil the new player mascot kits at the UEFA Europa League final in Seville on 18 May.

Engelbert Strauss donated the 22 player mascot kits to German and Spanish children from Fundación Grande Valores to celebrate European diversity. Support from UEFA competition partners makes a big difference to the foundation’s work and includes exclusive events and opportunities.

“We’re delighted that Strauss is partnering with us to support the work of the UEFA Foundation for Children,“ says UEFA Foundation general secretary Urs Kluser. “We’re using the magic of football to bring hope to children all around the world.”

Guided by the same belief that nothing sustains more than education, the company is strongly committed to helping children and teenagers.

“Football brings joy and unites people, says Strauss CEO and brand director Henning Strauss. “And football kicks off positive change worldwide. We’re highlighting this with the UEFA Foundation for Children logo on our new finals kit – turning the strip into a statement.”

There are plans for more joint initiatives between the foundation and Strauss in the future, with a particular focus on Bangladesh, where the workwear company’s new CI factory is located and where Strauss supports local communities as it has done in manufacturing countries outside Germany for several years.

New production technology

As official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, Strauss will equip the player mascots with football kits created using cutting-edge clothing technology. One of the most ambitious aspects of the kit is its use of ‘energy waves’, the Europa League‘s iconic graphic motif. Thanks to brand new techniques pioneered in Bangladesh, these will be printed across seams without breaks, by welding and taping invisible seams, creating digital prototypes for 3D printing and composing new textile materials.

Football brings joy and unites people, and football kicks off positive change worldwide. We’re highlighting this with the UEFA Foundation for Children logo on our new finals kit – turning the strip into a statement.”

- Henning Strauss, Strauss CEO and brand director

For all pictures (c)Engelbert Strauss

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About Engelbert Strauss

Project partner

Engelbert Strauss is Europe's leading work and utility brand. Headquartered 50 km north-west of Frankfurt/Main the company employs around 1600 people and manufactures in 26 countries worldwide. Strauss has been a leader in customizing and branding for decades and is one of the top online retailers in Germany. Strauss has already caused a sensation with extraordinary partnerships in sports and entertainment – including collaborations with global stars such as the rock band Metallica and the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Association. The company’s strategic direction in sports sponsorship focuses on the premium sector: Strauss is official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League and official partner of the German national football team. The iconic Strauss ostrich also supports the esports player foundation as a kit supplier and promoter of young talent.

Making children’s football dreams come true

The disruption of latest football season by the Covid-19 pandemic will not be easily forgotten. However, we should also remember the dreams that came true for seriously ill children thanks to the UEFA foundation.

During the 2019/20 season, the UEFA Foundation for Children was once again able to count on the support of UEFA volunteers, known as wish-makers. This season 12 wish-makers dedicated their time and energy to fulfilling the dreams of 19 children. Through collaboration with various associations, including Étoile Filante, Association Rêves, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Eric Abidal Foundation, the UEFA Foundation was able to give seriously ill children the opportunity to attend a UEFA football match. The children also met their favourite football team or player. This unforgettable experience gave children who are physically unable to participate in football a chance to enjoy it as a spectator.

Despite the ongoing global pandemic, the UEFA foundation is still working hard to make children’s dreams come true. Indeed, UEFA Foundation’s Dreaming Football campaign encourages people to share their football dreams for after the pandemic. As part of this campaign, Aleksander Čeferin said that he wanted to keep using football to do good and put a smile on children’s faces.

We can’t wait!

My football dream is to keep using football to do good and put a smile on children’s faces.

- Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the national associations.

Another Season of Dreams

Another season of dreams come true for children

The UEFA Foundation for Children is proud to have been able to make children's dreams come true again for yet another year

This past year provided more opportunities for making children’s wishes come true. Every year the UEFA Foundation for Children strives to help children who have suffered accidents or illnesses to fulfil their dreams of attending a match and meeting their favourite players.

Since its establishment in 2015, the foundation has been working hand in hand with Etoile Filante/Sternschnuppe in Switzerland and Association Rêves in France to make dreams happen. For many children with ailments or handicaps, even just attending a match can be very challenging. We enable them to attend with their carers in an adapted environment. Add to that the opportunity to meet their favourite players or team, and it really is a dream come true!

Here is an overview of the wonderful opportunities these children were able to experience in 2018/19.

UEFA Europa League

Joel, aged 10, met Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from FC Arsenal.

Gabriel, aged 12, met David Luiz from Chelsea FC.

UEFA Champion’s League

Mohamed, aged 11, met Mohamed Salah from FC Liverpool.

Ciaran, aged 11, met Lewandowski, Boateng and Hummels from FC Bayern.

Noah, aged 11, met Robert Lewandowski from FC Bayern.

Alan, aged 7, was able to see Juventus play, met some players, and received a shirt and signed ball.

Luca, aged 17, and Erjan aged 14 got to meet and have their shirts signed by the players of Real Madrid and Ajax.

Mylann, aged 10, met Paul Pogba from Manchester United.

Mohames, aged 9, met Messi from FC Barcelona.

Yanis, aged 7, met all FC Barcelona players.

Seven children aged between 14 and 17 from the Association Air Pur et Soleil in France travelled to Madrid to attend the Champion’s League final, as did a group of youngsters from the Sport dans la Ville association.

UEFA Nation’s League final

Achraf (17), Hugo (8) and Thomas (12) met Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus.

Benoît aged 15, Djamel aged 9 and Younes aged 11 got to meet Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus.

Bring stars in their eyes

The UEFA Foundation for Children is making a real difference by using football as a force for good in society.

During the second half of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season, the foundation made the dreams of several children come true.

In cooperation with the French association Rêves and Sternschnuppe/Etoile filante and Make a Wish in Switzerland – and with the invaluable support of volunteers from among UEFA’s staff – the following youngsters were given the unique opportunity to realise their dreams and leave behind their difficult everyday lives for a short while.

Patrizio’s dream: to attend an FC Barcelona match, visit their stadium and see his idol Neymar in action.
Patrizio watched FC Barcelona play Juventus during the quarter-final second leg match of this season’s UEFA Champions League, which ended in a goalless draw. However, thanks to their 3-0 first leg victory, Juventus went through to the semi-finals – to the despair of Patrizio.

Yves-Clément’s dream: to attend a Chelsea FC match, meet the team and his hero Eden Hazard.
Yves-Clément watched the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Swansea City AFC on 25 February. He was thrilled to see Chelsea come out 3-1 winners.

More children’s dreams came true during the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff.

Scott saw Real Madrid CF doing the replicate of last year’s victory against Club Atlético de Madrid by beating Juventus in this year’s final. Kevin and Thomas were also be in the National Stadium of Wales watching the game.
The three youngsters have been invited by the associations Dreams & Wishes, Association pour la Vie and Orchidée. They attended the game with their families to share the joy of this special day.

A group of ten young adults from the French association Sport dans la ville in Lyon were also invited at the match. The young men and women were chosen via an internal tournament and selected on the basis of their good behaviour and regular participation in the association’s projects. They were the happy witnesses Madrid’s quest to lift the 2016/17 Champions League trophy with their very own eyes.

Another 20 children were invited through the association Streetfootballworld, a global charitable network that enables disadvantaged youngsters to participate in football matches, educational workshops and cultural programmes.

More children’s dreams come true with the help of the UEFA Foundation for Children

During the first half of the new season (between September and December 2016), the UEFA Foundation for Children helped make the dreams of seven seriously ill football fans come true.

In cooperation with the French association Rêves and the Foundation Sternschnuppe/Etoile filante active in Switzerland – and with the precious support of volunteers from the UEFA staff – these young people were given a unique opportunity to live their dreams and leave behind their problems for a short while.

Nicolas’s dream: to attend a match of FC Barcelona, visit the stadium and meet the players

Nicolas watched FC Barcelona beat Manchester City 4-0 at home on 19 October on matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League.

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Théo’s dream: to see a match of Paris Saint-Germain and to meet some players

Théo attended the Paris Saint-Germain v FC Basel UEFA Champions League group match at Parc des Princes on 19 October – Link (in French)

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Tobias’ dream: to attend an FC Basel match and meet Marc Janko

Tobias watched FC Basel play Paris Saint-Germain at Sankt-Jakob Park on the matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League on 2 November.

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Andrea’ dream: to watch a Juventus match and meet the players

Andrea went to watch Juventus play Olympic Lyonnais on matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League on 2 November – Link (in French)

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Brian’s dream: to see a match of FC Barcelona and meet the players

Brian saw FC Barcelona win 4-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Camp Nou on 6 December on matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League group stage – Link (in French)

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Putting a smile back on the faces of disadvantaged children

The emotion of football is universal. The UEFA Foundation for Children is set to fulfil the lifelong dreams of several children who have serious illnesses or disabilities or are suffering the effects of major accidents by giving them the chance to watch Real Madrid CF take on Club Atlético de Madrid in the 2016 UEFA Champions League final in Milan tomorrow night.

In cooperation with charitable associations such as Étoile filante/Sternschnuppe, Rêves and Make-A-Wish, the foundation has invited four children and their families to come and experience this great annual festival of football. This rare opportunity to share in the intense joy and emotion of such a unique and momentous event will be a far cry from their everyday lives and the medical challenges they face on a daily basis.

Joseph Fontanarosa, head of communication for the Moselle branch of Rêves commented: “Today, I’m here with a boy named Teoman. He’s 15 and seriously ill. It’s really special to be able to bring him here because he absolutely loves football. I see his eyes light up more every minute with all that he is seeing and experiencing. Today he’s just a really happy child and it’s this weekend that will give him the strength to keep up the fight when he returns home.”

Mazyar Taennler, from the Zurich-based Étoile filante/Sternschnuppe, said: “I’m here today with two families and two children, Livio and Luka. Both of them have had quite a hard time, one since birth and the other as of last year. Both of them love football, so it’s very special for them to be here, having this experience and seeing how things work behind the scenes. This is a very special weekend for the children, their families, and me. We‘re all football fanatics! They are really looking forward to the final tomorrow. And to be greeted as special guests, to not have to wait in line, and to be able to take all the pictures they want, that makes the experience more special still.”

The UEFA Foundation for Children has also invited 13 children from the organisation Air Pur & Soleil (plus chaperones) to attend the match. This child welfare organisation based in Haute-Savoie takes care of children facing crises of various kinds, typically by giving them the opportunity to spend some time away from their family, school and/or institutional environment.

All of these children are enjoying an exclusive two-day programme devised specially for them, thanks to the support of a number of volunteers from UEFA.

Today, they spent some of the afternoon at the UEFA Champions Festival in the heart of Milan, having their photo taken with the trophy, visiting the Champions Gallery, watching the all-star match and meeting some of the stars in question. They then went to San Siro to watch the two teams’ official pre-match training sessions.

When they return to San Siro tomorrow night to watch the UEFA Champions League final, thereby fulfilling a lifelong ambition, it is bound to be a highly emotional occasion.

More children’s dreams come true with the help of the UEFA Foundation for Children

During the second half of the season (February to April), UEFA Foundation for Children helped make the dreams of seven seriously ill football fans come true.

In cooperation with the associations Rêves in France and Sternschnuppe/ Etoile filante in Switzerland – and with the precious support of volunteers from among UEFA’s staff – these young people were given an unique opportunity to live their dreams and leave behind their problems for a short while.

Samuel’s dream: to attend a Paris Saint-Germain FC match, visit the stadium and meet the players.

Samuel watched Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea FC at home on 16 February in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie. www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153814044907110&id=264778857109 (in French)

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Marouane’s dream: to meet Eden Hazard and attend a Chelsea match.

Marouane attended the return leg of the Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie at Stamford Bridge on 9 March.

www.reves.fr/corporate/reves/tous-reves/marouane-joueurs-chelsea,12382.html?PHPSESSID=6jk7gf3h2ejkohuea78db999a4 (in French)

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Aboubakr, Amine, Naïl and Pierrick’s dreams: to attend an FC Barcelona match and meet the team.

All four watched the Azulgrana secure their place in the quarter-finals by beating Arsenal FC at home on 16 March in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie.

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Aboubakr:

www.reves.fr/corporate/reves/tous-reves/aboubakr-rencontre-joueurs-barcelone-assiste-match,12330.html (in French)

Amine:

www.reves.fr/corporate/reves/tous-reves/amine-rencontre-joueurs-barcelone-assiste-match,12220.html (in French)

Naïl:

www.reves.fr/corporate/reves/tous-reves/nail-rencontre-joueurs-barcelone-assiste-match,12609.html (in French)

Pierrick:

www.reves.fr/corporate/reves/tous-reves/pierrick-rencontre-joueurs-barcelone-assiste-match,12374.html (in French)

Robin’s dream: to meet Robert Lewandowski and Mario Götze and attend an FC Bayern München match.

Robin watched his idols’ beat SL Benfica at home on 5 April in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.

www.facebook.com/StiftungKinderhilfeSternschnuppe/posts/1186339784711750$ and www.sternschnuppe.ch/herzenswuensche/erfuellte-herzenswuensche/herzenswunsch-detail/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=635&cHash=693a7ae9d5276d3c7d2628da2e0b87ba (both in German)

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UEFA Foundation helps children to live their dreams!

With the help of associations that fulfil the dreams of seriously ill children, as well as the goodwill of football clubs and their players, and thanks to UEFA and all its volunteers, the UEFA Foundation for Children has made some children’s dreams come true.

As a result, these children and their families have been able to share some memorable happy moments together, brightening the children’s lives and helping to build their confidence.

Marc’s dream:

To go to the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin.