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The UEFA Foundation for Children was established on the initiative of the UEFA President, Michel Platini, reflecting UEFA’s desire to play a more active role in society.

For years, the governing body of European football has been supporting initiatives and programmes that help children in difficult circumstances, working with numerous different partners to develop projects across Europe and beyond.

Keen to step up its activities and target them appropriately, UEFA decided to establish an independent foundation that uses sport to support humanitarian projects linked to children’s rights in areas such as health, education and integration.

On 26 March 2014, at the 38th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Astana, Michel Platini stressed UEFA’s desire to enable more people to benefit from football’s role in society.

FedEx Express and the UEFA Foundation for Children have both participated in the opening of a new community football pitch in Cañada Real,Madrid, giving local children a safe place to play sport.This film shows the construction of the pitch and explores how powerful a tool football can be in uniting communities.

Peter Gilliéron is a member the UEFA Foundation for Children Board

The UEFA Foundation for Children has hit the ground running since its launch last April – and with UEFA EURO 2016 looming, this year promises to bring more joy for youngsters in Europe and beyond.

The joy shining in young eyes thanks to football has been a recurring feature in a memorable first year for the UEFA Foundation for Children, launched last spring with the key aim of using the game’s social force to help children and safeguard their rights.

The foundation, which embodies UEFA’s wish to play a more active role in society – using football as a vehicle – has hit the ground running in the initial eight months of its existence, already winning widespread plaudits for the quality of its work. A wealth of activities in 2016 are destined to provide further happiness and positive experiences for youngsters in Europe and beyond.

The UEFA Foundation for Children has hit the ground running since its launch last April – and with UEFA EURO 2016 looming, this year promises to bring more joy for youngsters in Europe and beyond.

The joy shining in young eyes thanks to football has been a recurring feature in a memorable first year for the UEFA Foundation for Children, launched last spring with the key aim of using the game’s social force to help children and safeguard their rights.

The foundation, which embodies UEFA’s wish to play a more active role in society – using football as a vehicle – has hit the ground running in the initial eight months of its existence, already winning widespread plaudits for the quality of its work. A wealth of activities in 2016 are destined to provide further happiness and positive experiences for youngsters in Europe and beyond.

A refugees camp

Nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children, live at the Za’atari camp in the Jordanian desert. The camp is the equivalent of the third biggest city in Jordan.

The UEFA Foundation for Children, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), is helping the children and young people of Za’atari through sports activities, in particular football, giving them opportunities to play and remain children in a situation of war.

According to the UNHCR, 17 years is the average length of stay in a refugee camp.