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Bombing civilians is not a part of war. It’s a crime. We stand united behind Handicap International France, alongside the players of Sevilla FC and Real Madrid C.F. when we say: it must STOP

Ali and Ismael make football history by leading Real Madrid C.F. and Sevilla FC out on to the pitch at #SuperCup 2016. They’ll be the first children with disabilities ever to be player escorts as we show our support for the wonderful work of Handicap International.

The UEFA Foundation for Children is inviting 20,000 deprived children to attend a UEFA EURO 2016 match.

The children will be selected and looked after by host cities and associations that play a recognised role in assisting vulnerable children at national or local level.

This project will be organised for the group matches (excluding the opening match) and round of 16 matches, i.e. 43 matches in all, at an average of 450 children per match. The host cities will provide logistical support and other services to accompany the children.

THIS EXHIBITION PRESENTS THREE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON CHILDREN’S LIVES
AT THE ZA’ATARI CAMP.

Five children at the camp have had the opportunity to show, through their eyes, how life continues despite the particular context in which they are living. In partnership with a local NGO, these youngsters have benefited from training as photographers, and the UEFA foundation provided cameras to allow them to produce their own exhibition and promote it beyond the borders of the Za’atari camp. The aspiring photographers were very keen to take part in this project, and using professional cameras was a wonderful experience for them. They were supervised by Mahmoud Hamed Al Hariri, a football coach at the camp, who also took a few pictures.

Pascale Cholette, a French photographer who works for the digital agency Future Learning, felt the great contrast between her freedom and that of the refugees, who are held captive by fences. Describing herself as a captive of her European mindset and Western culture, she decided to use the lights of the desert to free the youngsters from the reality around them, and to simply focus on what they are – children.

Rawan Risheq, a Jordanian photographer, had a fascinating experience. She was granted access to mosques and homes, and visits to youth centres and playgrounds enabled her to understand how a refugee’s life is organised, and how the Syrians have adjusted after years in the camp. Many children were happy to be photographed, but some would barely smile – they seemed like grown adults in children’s bodies.

Rawan came across a great deal of talent, and so many powerful expressions that held stories of survival within them.

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.