55 new children’s projects approved

This Friday, the UEFA Foundation for Children celebrates World Children’s Day, using the magic of football to support the children who need it most.

On Wednesday 18 November, the foundation’s board of trustees, chaired by the UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin, met via videoconference to discuss new projects and the institution’s future.

The foundation’s fifth anniversary, this year, is an opportunity to review its past activities and reflect on the future. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the new challenges it has brought with it, the UEFA Foundation for Children was able to rely on its partners’ commitment to help it safeguard children’s rights.

The most anticipated decision of this session was the allocation of the 2020/21 budget of €4,812,021 to new projects or an extension of existing projects, in line with its mission to protect children’s fundamental rights in health and protection, children with disabilities, education and personal development, access to sport, integration of minorities and protection for victims of conflicts.

Approximately half of the foundation’s budget is earmarked for projects in Europe while the rest supports projects in other continents. In all, 55 projects are supported along with three new pitch constructions in Europe in partnership with Lay’s.

 

“The Foundation views the pandemic as an opportunity to continue to use the beautiful game of football to assist so many organisations, in Europe and around the world, that focus on the needs of children and help them to keep their hopes and dreams alive. Thanks to the support we and our sponsors provide, children are helped to develop and reach their full potential, with dignity and in full protection of their rights.”

Norman Darmanin Demajo, member of the board of trustees

 

55 NGO projects were selected for financial support from the UEFA Foundation for Children: 24 in Europe; 16 in Africa; 8 in America, 6 in Asia; and 1 in Oceania.

Organisation Project Name in Europe
ActionAid Hellas Beyond goals 2 Greece
Ayuda en Acción Fairplay4life Spain
Barça Foundation FutbolNet Greece
Bellevue di Monaco Intercultural rooftop sports court Germany
Syndrome of Love Football for Children with Down Syndrome Russia
European Football for Development Network (EFDN) EFDN STEM & Football Education Programme Bulgaria, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Fondation Arménienne Pour le Développement Durable Génération Sport Armenia
Football Association of Moldova Let’s play outside Moldova
Foundation Just for Smiles Smiles for Children Switzerland
Impala Performance ASBL Mbo Mpenza Challenge Belgium
Katamon Moadon Ohadim Hapoel Katamon’s Neighborhood League Israel
Kicken Ohne Grenzen Football Without Borders Austria
Liverpool School Sport Partnership (LSSP) Foundation Finding my potential United Kingdom
Młodzieżowe Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Sportowych (MSIS) Football3 empower girls Poland
Oltalom Sport Association New challenges, new opportunities Hungary
Adopt a ball 150 countries worldwide
Peres Center for Peace & Innovation Sport in the Service of Peace Israel
Rio Ferdinand Foundation Youth in Action Northern Ireland
Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) Football versus Discrimination Republic of Ireland
Sport dans la Ville Vocational Centre France
Sportske Igre Mladih Youth Sports Games 2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia
Stichting het Gehandicapte Kind Bijzondere Eredivisie Netherlands
streetfootballworld GmbH Safeguarding children certification programme Europe
Ukraine Football Development Charitable Foundation Cup of Trust Ukraine

 

Organisation Project Name in Africa
Aliguma Foundation Sports for Resilience & Empowerment Project Uganda
Georges Malaika Foundation Future Leaders of Kalebuka Republic Democratic of Congo
Grootbos Green Futures Foundation Football Foundation: Sports for Good South Africa
iACT Refugee-led sport and early Childhood Education Programme Chad
Kick4Life Good Health & Climate Action through Football Lesotho
La balle aux prisonniers Sport for reintegration Ivory Coast
Libre Vue Solidarité Aveugle Mali
Light for the World We are the Champions South Sudan
Médecins du Monde Bophelo Ke Kgwele (The game, the Life) South Africa
Right to Play Girls on Track Tanzania
Samusocial International Promote social inclusion through sport for street children and youth in Pointe-Noire Republic of Congo
Solidarité Marathon des Sables Sport Centre in Ouarzazate Morocco
Street Child Improving the psychosocial well-being of conflict affected displaced children Mozambique
Triangle Génération Humanitaire Strengthen protection, socio-educational activities and social reintegration of vulnerable minors Central African Republic
Unis vers le Sport Les gazelles de la Teranga Senegal
Water4wildlife Maasai Mara Kick the ball, Save our wildlife Kenya

 

Organisation Project Name in America
Fabretto Children's Foundation Inc. Promoting sports to build resilience in rural Nicaragua Nicaragua
Fight for Peace Unity & Peace Jamaica
Fundación Empate Empate for Argentina Argentina
Global Outreach And Love of Soccer (GOALS) Team Goals Haiti
Johan Cruyff Foundation A safe space to play for children in Cabreúva, Brazil Brazil
Mama Alice Football, fun and friends camp Peru
Rêves Passion Montreal Soccer Urbain pour le rêve et l'espoir Canada
Starfinder Foundation Senior Leaders USA

 

Organisation Project Name in Asia
Action for Development Street children back to school Afghanistan
Asia Football Development Programme Kick for hope Jordan
Baan Dek Foundation Football4good Thailand
Cross Cultures Project Association Bringing Fun Football to Children in Syria Syria
Fundlife International Inc. Football for Peace Academy Philippines
Indochina Starfish Foundation Playing for Equality Cambodia

 

Organisation Project Name in Oceania
Just Play Just Play programme American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, India

 

 

 

 

greek leandros (c)Youthorama

Orama Neon Youthorama "Adopt a ball"

Just Play action at half time. OFC U-17 Championship 2013, Fiji v Papua New Guinea, Luganville Soccer City Stadium, Vanuatu, Sunday 21st April 2013. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

Just Play "Just Play programme"

UEFA MG_2710

Grootbos Green Futures Foundation " Football Foundation Sports for Good"

 

Copy of FabrettoAR_all-2668

Fabretto Children's Foundation "Promoting sports to build resilience in rural Nicaragua"