German youth amputee footballer helps design 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball

Children’s drawings from ten UEFA Foundation for Children projects will feature in the design of the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball, including a drawing by two children from Germany.

This season’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League winners will play the annual UEFA Super Cup match at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on 24 September at 21:00 CET with a special match ball featuring a series of children’s drawings integrated into the ball’s design.

The drawing by German youngster Jamie and his sister Zadie will appear on the ball. Jamie was amputated when he was just under a year old. He has been playing football from a very young age. Sport, being active and playing football have always been important to Jamie. Zadie, his younger sister, always accompanies Jamie to his football training, games and, of course, to AMPUKIDS events. Football is an essential part of their lives.

Jamie: “For me, football means seeing my friends, being active and improving myself physically. Football is part of my life. At school break, in the afternoon with my friends on the football pitch, or at training in the club, wherever there is a ball, we play. The smile in the painted drawing represents the fun that football gives me.”

“AMPUKIDS has been an integral part of my life for almost six years. The leisure activities we go to twice a year are like meeting our family again. Everyone is equal there and the disabilities are not the focus. It’s normal for prostheses to be put on and taken off, wheelchairs to be exchanged and for us to help and support each other. That's why I'm happy to be there every time.”

Zadie is very proud of her big brother. He is a great role model to her. “My brother Jamie helps me, he plays with me, takes me to kindergarten and supports me. I like football because I can play with him and he shows me how to shoot properly. What I like about AMPUKIDS is that I can see my friends. We experience great adventures together and play all day.”

The drawings are the work of 18 children with different backgrounds from ten European organisations who work together with the UEFA Foundation for Children and were selected by the chairman of the foundation’s board, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.

Unique moment

“I’m sure that the children will be thrilled to see their drawings on the Super Cup match ball and to know that stars of our game will be scoring goals with it,” said the UEFA president.

“These young people know the work of the UEFA Foundation and I am proud that they want to be part of one of UEFA’s showpiece events.”

“It was inspiring to see all these excellent drawings and hear the stories of the children. I hope that the joy they feel because their artwork is on the ball for such an important match will motivate them not only to play football but also to follow their dreams.”

Children from across the continent were encouraged to submit drawings showing what football meant to them in a contest organised by the foundation together with its ten partner organisations. Mr Čeferin chose the 18 drawings from a portfolio of more than 200 contributions.

Leading up to the UEFA Super Cup match at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão in August, the UEFA Foundation for Children will tell the stories of the 18 children on the Instagram channels uefa_foundation and @UEFA_official.

AMPUKIDS has been an integral part of my life for almost six years. The leisure activities we go to twice a year are like meeting our family again. Everyone is equal there and the disabilities are not the focus. It’s normal for prostheses to be put on and taken off, wheelchairs to be exchanged and for us to help and support each other. That's why I'm happy to be there every time.

- Jamie

The UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour 2020 driven by Kia to Zaatari refugee camp

The Europa League Trophy Tour 2020 driven by Kia to Zaatari refugee camp

Kia Motors and UEFA Foundation for Children renew their support for refugee children in the Zaatari camp for the second season

The UEFA Europa League trophy tour, driven by Kia, is taking one of UEFA’s most prestigious trophies on the road again, visiting local schools, grassroots clubs and pop-up locations in city centres in six new European countries from February to May. Fans will have the opportunity to see the iconic UEFA Europa League trophy up close and meet with footballing legends. For the duration of the tour, fans of all ages will also be encouraged to donate unwanted football boots, which will be taken to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, the final stop on the tour.

The boots will be distributed to children and youngsters participating in the football programmes set up in the camp, to inspire them and enable them to play in better conditions. Furthermore, having the opportunity to see the legendary trophy coveted by the biggest teams in Europe will be an unforgettable experience for many of the camp’s residents.

“My football boots were my gateway to freedom. These opportunities and freedoms, which I often had to fight hard for yet were possible in our society, are what I want to pass on to girls,” said Tugba Tekkal, a young refugee who grew up in Germany.

The UEFA Europa League trophy tour stops in six new European cities, giving fans the opportunity to get close to the trophy and ambassadors:

7/8 February Frankfurt, Germany

21 February Barcelona, Spain

13/14 March Rome, Italy

27/28 March Amsterdam, Netherlands

1/2 May Manchester, UK

15/16 May Warsaw, Poland

25/26 July Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan

A stellar list of former players has signed up to take part: Michael Owen will be the global ambassador of the campaign, and each stop welcomes a local ambassador on board, such as Thomas Berthold in Frankfurt, Eric Abidal in Barcelona and Jerzy Dudek in Warsaw. Other legends will be announced nearer the time.

“UEFA is delighted to have Kia renew its support of the Europa League trophy tour for a second season,” said UEFA’s director of marketing, Guy-Laurent Epstein. “Both organisations have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, and we are extremely proud of this partnership that will bring the tour, trophy and ambassadors to seven countries. Our hope is that the UEFA Europa League trophy tour, driven by Kia will inspire a new generation to lift the iconic trophy, and that the football boots donated during the tour provide refugee children in Zaatari camp with the resources they need to enjoy playing the game and develop their love of football.”

"We are extremely excited to bring back the UEFA Europa League trophy tour, driven by Kia for a second year,” said Artur Martins, Vice President Global Brand & Marketing at Kia Motors Corporation.

“This news is testament to the huge success and popularity of the first year of the campaign. Last year, the tour gave football fans of all ages the chance to see the trophy up close and to donate their football boots to a very deserving cause – which proved to be an overwhelming success. This year, we hope to receive even more donations and continue to support the young refugees in playing a sport that they love.”

Boot donations

Boot donations can be made at each stop of the tour, as well as at selected Kia dealerships in certain markets.

Last season, Kia collected an incredible 1,052 pairs of boots. However, there are still around 2,000 children without football boots at Zaatari refugee camp
This year, Kia aims to double the number of boots donated to Zaatari refugee camp to meet this demand
Every fan who donates a pair of boots will be in with a chance of winning an all-expenses-paid trip to the UEFA Europa League final, including flights, accommodation and organised activities.

My football boots were my gateway to freedom. These opportunities and freedoms, which I often had to fight hard for yet were possible in our society, are what I want to pass on to girls.

- Tugba Tekkal, a young refugee who grew up in Germany

REFUGEES ESPORTS CUP: THE FIRST ESPORTS TOURNAMENT IN REFUGEE CAMPS

Refugees eSports Cup: the first eSports tournament in refugee camps

From 26 January to 1 February, Libraries Without Borders and the UEFA Foundation for Children will hold the first eSport tournament in the Syrian refugee camp of Zaatari in Jordan. This action is supported by Facebook, PlayStation and ArmaTeam.

A refugee spends on average 18 years of her or his life in a camp. Eighteen years without being able to catch up on the news, read or learn well. For that reason, Libraries Without Borders and the UEFA Foundation for Children are working tirelessly so that the women, men and children from the camp of Zaatari can connect with the world again, overcome boredom, find the assets to foster their resilience and think about their future. By promoting access to sport, education, information and culture, we are committed to giving everyone the capacity to be autonomous, free and to achieve fulfilment.

The camp is located east of Mafraq and has today 60 000 Syrians who fled from the civil war. Libraries Without Borders set up an Ideas Box there three years ago - a mobile media library, in kit form, designed by Philippe Starck. The UEFA Foundation for Children, meanwhile, has been offering for the past five years various sport activities through its house of sport, football pitches and coach education.

For the first time, Libraries Without Borders and the UEFA Foundation for Children will organize the “Refugees eSports Cup” tournament with the support of Facebook, PlayStation and ArmaTeam in the camp of Zaatari. From 26 January to 1 February, this event will gather 200 teenagers from 10 to 18 - including people with disabilities - who have been training since December ; the final will be held on 31 January and February 1. At the core of this project : social cohesion and entertainment.

VIDEO GAMES, VECTOR OF SOCIAL COHESION
In libraries and museums, video games have also their place. Way ahead of literature, movie and music industry, video games are nowadays the most consumed cultural good in the world.

Provide access to video games in refugee camps, why?
Libraries Without Borders and the UEFA Foundation for Children wish to make a positive use of this cultural good for all. To this end, it was meaningful to us to hold this very first eSport tournament in Jordan : video games are a cultural product that refugees should have access to, just like any other. For the time of a match, they will then be able to escape from their daily lives and their hard living conditions.

Video games are first and foremost human. Whether they challenge each other, regardless their stories, the players create a social link, exchange and share with respect. Interactive and inclusive, it brings them entertainment and allows them to escape, tell and create stories. Imagination and creativity are boosted. The player is able to dive into other universes - as a novel or a comic can do - by making her or him the main character of her or his own story. It is a chance to meet each other, to learn the different issues and rules of living together. Finally, with the video games, failure - in all its forms - does not exist: it even constitutes the core of learning. And defeat encourages them to carry on and move forward.

About Librairies Without Borders

Since 2007, Libraries Without Borders has been working tirelessly to bring knowledge to those who are deprived of it - from refugee camps in Bangladesh to rural areas in France - and to make the right to culture a fundamental human right. In thirteen years, the association has reached more than six million people in fifty countries.

Project Partners

Two boys from Vilnius help design 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball

Children’s drawings from ten UEFA Foundation for Children projects, will feature in the design of the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball, including designs from two children from the Lithuanian capital.

Drawings by Lithuanian youngsters Germanas and Laimonas will appear on the ball. The pair attend free football training at the Vilnius social club, an organisation that aims to change people’s lives for the better. The pair have certainly benefited from their experiences and their love for football has grown even stronger.

“In my drawing you can see the heart and word football inside,” said 10-year-old Laimonas. “I just wanted to express my love to football, I really like it. I feel happy when I play football. What do I like the most? I like to dribble past defenders.”

“I like Vilnius social club football trainings. I just like to spend my time with the ball: to roll it, to juggle it or to play football,” mentioned Germanas, who is 11-years-old. “I painted myself – a football player who scores the goal. I drew this because this is my dream. I have never scored a goal, but I know that my dream will come true soon.”

Unique moment

“I’m sure that the children will be thrilled to see their drawings on the Super Cup match ball and to know that stars of our game will be scoring goals with it,” said the UEFA President.

“These young people know the work of the UEFA Foundation and I am proud that they want to be part of one of UEFA’s showpiece events.”

I just wanted to express my love to football, I really like it. I feel happy when I play football. - Laimonas, 10.

Van from Ankaran, Slovenia, helped design the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball

The 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League winners will play the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match with a special match ball featuring a selection of children’s drawings in its design

The drawings are the work of 18 children from different backgrounds from ten European organisations that work with the UEFA Foundation for Children. One of those children is Van. He goes to Debeli Rtič in Slovenia, a health resort and medical centre that holds football camps. Playing football helps Van connect with other children. After the last football camp, he expressed his feelings in a drawing. “I draw cartoons all the time. For the UEFA Foundation drawing contest, I simply drew what is essential in every sport.” Van drew a cartoon depicting two different teams – one won the match, the other lost. “In sports it is not important to win but to have fun. This message is for all kids, so they do not get used to always winning,” he said.

More information about Debeli Rtič und its work with the UEFA Foundation for Children:

Debeli Rtič is located in Ankaran, Slovenia and was founded in 1955.

Debeli Rtič is a health resort and medical and physiotherapy centre for children with limb, skin and locomotor system disorders.

Every child has access to football.

Mission

Debeli Rtič is a health centre and resort for children, teenagers and families run by the Slovenian Red Cross. It enjoys a healing microclimate and houses modern treatment facilities that promote recovery, good health and well-being.

The resort runs football camps for children during the summer holidays. The camps provide children with training by professional coaches, educational programmes and entertainment.

Activities

Children are at the heart of the activities at Debeli Rtič. Thanks to a donation from the UEFA Foundation for Children, 125 children were able to take part in five-day football camps in 2017 and in 2018.

Number of beneficiaries

More than 16,000 children, including 1,500 children from socially disadvantaged families, are yearly going to the health and resort center.

Impact

Football has a positive effect on the children’s health (well-being during the school holidays), behaviour (less fear and aggression), intelligence (spatial problem-solving) and the socialisation process (group activities).
Football is an inclusive sport that brings together children of different nationalities, social backgrounds and abilities. Young girls are very enthusiastic about football and like to train with the boys.
Sporting values such as fair play, team spirit and responsibility are important for the children’s education.
Most importantly, the children have fun and are happy with the football training and games.

“We are very grateful for the football field donated by the Football Association of Slovenia in 2014, which has enabled us to develop new sports programmes and helped improve the health of all the children. The continuing cooperation with the UEFA Foundation for Children greatly enhances and furthers our mission to improve children’s well-being.” Ana Žerjal, Debeli Rtič resort manager

2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball designed by children

Children’s drawings from ten UEFA Foundation for Children projects, will feature in the design of the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball. Today UEFA begins telling the stories of the youngsters whose creativity made this unique initiative happen on its Instagram platforms.

The drawings are the work of 18 children with different backgrounds from ten European organisations who work together with the UEFA Foundation for Children, and were selected by the chairman of the foundation’s board, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

Unique moment

“I’m sure that the children will be thrilled to see their drawings on the Super Cup match ball and to know that stars of our game will be scoring goals with it,” said the UEFA President.

“These young people know the work of the UEFA Foundation and I am proud that they want to be part of one of UEFA’s showpiece events.”

Up to the Super Cup match at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão in August, the UEFA Foundation for Children will tell the stories of the 18 children on the Instagram channels @uefa_foundation and @UEFA_official.

The series starts today in Slovenia with the story of Van.

I’m sure that the children will be thrilled to see their drawings on the Super Cup match ball and to know that stars of our game will be scoring goals with it.

- Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president

Interactive photographic exhibition

Give children a voice ...

The Foundation is established since April 2015. It underlines the will of UEFA, its founder, to use the power of football to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. Photography was chosen to explain about the reasons for our commitment and the means put in place to achieve our mission: to defend the rights of the most vulnerable children by supporting NGO projects in the fields of health, disability, social inclusion of minorities, education and personal development up to employability.

The objectives of the exhibition are the following:

showing the foundation’s activities and arouse curiosity;
raising awareness of the environment of disfavoured children;
promoting the rights of the child and those of minorities (especially girls and children with disabilities through football);
campaigning for the improvement of the living conditions and social integration of disadvantaged children and to open a reflection on children’s situations in the world.

Ten projects are highlighted in this exhibition and giving the voice to educators and beneficiaries. Four of his projects are also presented in digital and interactive format.

You can discover the digital exhibition here. It is a zip file you need to 1)to download; 2) to unzip; 3) to go in the build folder and launch the photo expo app.

Download the app.

Overview of the projects

Blind Solidarity – This project was created after a trip to Mali by photographer Catherine Cabrol. On discovering the difficult living conditions of the blind youngsters, she was photographing, she decided to help them with Libre Vue association and provided them with a pitch and equipment so they could play blind football.

Sport knows no handicap – PluSport is an umbrella organisation for disabled sport in Switzerland. Its Goal Plus project harnesses the passion for football to give all disabled children – including those who use a wheelchair – an opportunity to play the game.

Autism and New Technologies – The UEFA Foundation for Children awarded FIRAH, the International Foundation of Applied Disability Research, a grant to improve communication for autistic children through its Autism and New Technologies project. L’Oiseau Blanc, a school that integrates autistic children, invited us in to see how technology can improve the children’s day-to-day lives.

Teaching inclusive football - This coach education programme run by the Scort Foundation and Football Club Social Alliance empowers young women and men to become proactive community leaders. In Ukraine, the coaches are working with young children affected by the conflict.

We Welcome Young Refugees - Since 2015, Royal Europa 90 Kraainem FC has been running an initiative to integrate young asylum seekers, entitled We Welcome Young Refugees. The project has already reached out to more than 1,500 unaccompanied minors.

Heroes on the field – The Cruyff Foundation provides underprivileged communities all over the world with safe playgrounds where children can grow up being active, improving their physical and mental development. The Heroes of the Cruyff Courts programme trains young coaches so that they can be role models in their neighbourhoods.

From sport to employment – Sport dans la Ville is a French organisation that uses sport to foster social inclusion. Its Job dans la Ville programme supports job creation and helps to integrate these youngsters into society, ensuring fairer life opportunities for all.

Peace and reconciliation through sport – The National Children’s Football Alliance has been organising the Global Peace Games since 2014 to celebrate peace through football. This peace education week, attended by thousands of young people from different backgrounds, aims to develop interpersonal and intercultural skills in the context of current conflicts.

Go girls! – This PSG Foundation project allows young girls living in deprived neighbourhoods to discover and enjoy sports and cultural activities. They are then encouraged to pursue an activity by joining a sports club.

Access to sport at any price – Red Deporte y Cooperación uses the power of sport to promote intercultural integration, focusing on leadership, gender equality, HIV prevention, hygiene and basic health education, and alcohol and drug prevention. This programme is run in Cañada Real, on the outskirts of Madrid.

All images were taken by artist photographer Catherine Cabrol

Heros on the field, project run by Cruyff Foundation

Autism and New Technologies, project run by FIRAH

Peace through sport, project run by National Children's Football Alliance

Go Girls! , project run by PSG Foundation We Welcome young refugees, project run by Royal Europa 90 Kraainem FC

42 new UEFA Foundation for Children projects

The foundation is expanding its activities in support of vulnerable children around the world

On Wednesday 20 November, the UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees, chaired by the UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin, met at the House of European Football in Nyon.

One of top items on the agenda was the approval of new projects to be supported by the foundation. The portfolio of projects supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children has grown steadily since it was established in 2015.

On the basis of both the foundation’s basic mandate and overarching strategy and the demands and realities of the world around us, the foundation reinforce its actions in promoting employment through sport, support victims of conflict, and support general development programmes through access to sport, in particular football, in the areas of health, education, personal development and the integration of minorities.

The board of trustees decided at their November meeting how to allocate the foundation’s 2019/20 budget of €4,764,608, with a view to strengthening the foundation’s capacity to act across the globe.

Bearing in mind that half of the foundation’s budget is earmarked for projects in Europe and the other half for projects in other continents, the board allocated the 2019/20 budget to:

42 new projects;
foundation projects associated with UEFA EURO 2020;
five new pitch constructions, in partnership with Lay’s.

The following 42 new projects will benefit from financial support from the foundation:

Partners	Project name	Continent/country
		EUROPE
Asociata Luncsoara Bihorului	Sportfield for children and youngsters	Romania
Associacao de Futebol de Bragança	Street football move	Portugal
Bel endroit pour une rencontre	Raconte moi un match	France
Edwin van der Sar Foundation	Child and parent day	Netherlands
European Football for Development Network	Welcome through football	UK, Ukraine, Cyprus, Germany, Portugal, Netherland
FC Barcelona Foundation	Sport based employability for unaccompanied minors	Southern Spain, Greece (Athens, Lesbos), Italy (Sicily)
Fondation arménienne pour le développement durable	Génération Sport	Armenia
Fundacion Real Madrid	Real Madrid foundation social sports schools in Europe	UK, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania
Hawar help e.V	Scoring girls	Germany
INEX	Football for development in Czech Republic	Czech Republic
Katamon Moadon Ohadim	Neighborhood League HKJFC	Israel
Kicken ohne grenzen	Kicken ohne grenzen	Austria
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	Health Goals Liverpool	UK
Mentor Management-Entwicklung-Organisation GmbH & Co	Goals for future	Austria
National Paralympic committee of Kazakhstan	Blind football pitch construction	Kazakhstan
Newcastle United Foundation	Active Lives	UK
Save the Children	Score for education	Albania
Streetfootballworld	Play Proud	Europe mainly + worldwide
The Scottish Football Partnership Trust	GoFitba project	Scotland
World at Play	Sport and Play for social integration of refugee children within local communities	Bulgaria
Klitschko Foundation	Success Package	Ukraine
		AFRICA
CCPA	Open fun football school - playing for peace	South Sudan
Busajo Onlus	Sport as education and promotion of equal opportunities for street girls in Sodo	Ethiopia
Inter Futura srl	African Black'n Blue: kids resiliencydevelopment through education and football	Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Uganda
Street Child	Excercising change in Palabek refugee settlement	Uganda
Georges Malaika Foundation	Future leaders of Kalebuka	Democratic Republique of Congo (DRC)
Power for the People	Remba Island education health and nutrition project	Kenya
Samusocial International	Carton rouge à l'exclusion	Burkina Faso
International organisation for migration	Sport for inclusion: football against racism	Tunisia and Maghreb
International Trade Centre	Kick for trade	Guinea, Gambia
		ASIA
Jesuit Refugee Service Iraq	A safe space for displaced Yazidi youth	Iraq
Blue Dragon Children's Foundation	New Futures through sport	Vietnam
Spirit of Soccer	Mine risk education in Cambodia	Cambodia
CIELO - Cooperation Internationale pour les équilibres locaux	Le jeu en vaut la chandelle	Sri Lanka
The Arsenal Foundation	Coaching for life	India
AFDP Global	Kick for hope	Jordan
		OCEANIA
Just Play	Just Play Programme	Cook Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Zealand, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu
		AMERICA
Starfinder foundation	Senior leaders	USA
Women Win	La Nuestra Football Club	Argentina
Plan International Belgique	A goal for gender equality	Bolivia
Fabretto children's foundation	Play to learn 2	Nicaragua
Fundacion del Empresariado Chihuahuense A.C	Afterschool program for underserved communities in Chihuahua border state	Mexico

Once again, the number and range of project proposals received by the UEFA Foundation –to foster education, development, inclusion and empowerment – proves how much football inspires and offers hope. The foundation is proud to support these associations and to see how much the beautiful game brings us together, carries us, saves us sometimes and, above all, unites us, ever expanding our horizons.

- Nathalie Iannetta, Board of trustee member

Klitschko foundation GATE_AF_CHERNIGIV_05701

Just Play Festival, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Saturday 29th August 2015. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.phototek.nz

The UEFA Foundation for Children welcomed Tatiana Valovaya, the new Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva.

The UEFA Foundation for Children welcolmed Tatiana Valovaya, the new Director-General of the UN office at Geneva.

Protection of children’s rights and football’s enduring social power were focal points when Tatiana Valovaya, the new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, visited UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon today. She met UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and visited the offices of the UEFA Foundation for Children – with the visit marking the 30th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The talks in Nyon centred on the strong bond between UEFA and the UN’s Geneva base, and gave UEFA the opportunity to highlight its work helping to enhance football’s power as a force for social good – in particular through the foundation’s portfolio of activities in favour of children in Europe and in other regions of the world.

UN Convention of the Rights of the Child

Adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 1989 and opened for signature on 20 November of the same year, the convention sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

“On the 30th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we are very pleased to welcome Tatiana Valovaya,” said Aleksander Čeferin who chairs the foundation’s board of trustees. “UEFA and its foundation hope to pursue this partnership by using football’s societal role to protect children and reduce inequalities,” he added.

Match for Solidarity joint venture

Last year, UEFA and the UN Office at Geneva joined forces to stage the Match for Solidarity. The objective was to promote peace, rights, well-being and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while raising funds for the UEFA Foundation for Children to finance humanitarian projects around the world.

Read the Match for Solidarity newsletter

The UN Sustainable Development Goals align with the UEFA Foundation for Children’s fundamental goals to promote equal opportunities for every child, through the use of football as an awareness and information tool.

“I thank President Aleksander Čeferin for his kind invitation to the UEFA headquarters and I hope we can continue this very fruitful cooperation” said Tatiana Valovaya. Through the important role that sports holds in society and our team work to achieve the SDGs, each and every one of us can be part of the solutions we need for today’s world challenges.

“Our partnership with the United Nations Office at Geneva has already enabled UEFA to support programmes that are aligned with the objectives of Goal 10 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and, in particular, to defend the rights of children with disabilities,” said Aleksander Čeferin.

Through the important role that sports holds in society and our team work to achieve the SDGs, each and every one of us can be part of the solutions we need for today’s world challenges.

- Tatiana Valovaya, new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

JET8 Foundation and UEFA Foundation for Children launch football Social Commerce App aimed to make a difference in children’s lives

JET8 Foundation and UEFA Foundation for Children launch football Social Commerce App aimed to make a difference in children’s lives.

14 August 2019, Singapore, The JET8 Foundation and UEFA Foundation for Children is proud to announce the launch of the new UEFA Foundation4Kids social commerce App.

The UEFA Foundation4Kids App incorporates JET8’s Fintech technology to reward users for in-app engagement through JETPoints, social currency users can use to make contributions to the UEFA Foundation for Children. Users of the App receive access to exclusive UEFA Foundation for Children geo-stickers and geo-frames.

The UEFA Foundation for Children believes in the power of football to change the lives of young people. Through sport, particularly football, the foundation helps children by providing support in the areas of health, education, access to sport, personal development, integration and defending the rights of the child.

The JET8 Foundation aims to enable crucial organisations like the UEFA Foundation for Children to succeed digitally. The use of JET8 social technology allows the UEFA Foundation4Kids App to build a digital community, a community that engages and creates memorable moments.

CEO of UEFA Foundation Urs Kluser said:

We are very pleased to collaborate with JET8 as their platform will enable the UEFA Foundation for Children to spread its message, inspire people, and get them to engage across the world. JET8’s technology means making a positive difference in the lives of children is now easy, accessible and fun!

Besides offering communities like the UEFA Foundation4Kids their own Social Commerce platform, JET8 has developed world-class user privacy technology to protect users’ personal data.

JET8’s User Data Exchange Programme facilitates the transaction between a user and third parties whereby a user can opt-in if they want anyone to purchase their personal data directly from them.

Mike Allen, Co-Founder of JET8 said, “The game of football is powerful! It helps kids dream and gives them hope to succeed in life. We are excited to work with the UEFA Foundation for Kids. Through JET8’s technology, we provide a platform for people to engage and spread the great work the foundation is doing world-wide. The App will help the foundation build a new community of influencers and supporters, who will be able to donate to the cause.

Download the UEFA Foundation4Kids App from the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store here: https://uefa4kids.jet8.app, and help children around the world, one sticker at a time!

ABOUT THE JET8 FOUNDATION

With a focus on research and development, the JET8 Foundation is a non-profit technology company that supports the global adoption of decentralised engagement networks together with mobile engagement platform, JET8.

The social media apps available on the JET8 network support authentic and organic peer-to-peer communities, that connect people around their passion points and reward them for their creativity and engagement.

JET8 innovates social engagement technology to enhance accessibility to ensure that anyone, anywhere, can interact and earn from their social influence on a global stage.

The JET8 Foundation was founded in 2018 and is based in Singapore.

For more information, visit http://den.foundation/.

UEFA Foundation for Children and the Turkish Football Federation team up to help refugees in Turkey

“Live Together” project for social cohesion between locals and displaced children

Today, behind the scenes of the at the UEFA Super Cup final in Istanbul, the UEFA Foundation for Children and the Turkish Football Federation announced their collaboration on the “live together” project in Turkey. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the respective presidents Aleksander Ceferin and Nihat Özdemir.

The Live Together project aims to improve the living conditions of refugees, migrants and host communities. It will facilitate social cohesion by encouraging Turkish children and Syrian child refugees to interact while playing together in safe spaces such as schools, communities centres and clubs. Through sport – and football in particular – those children will learn how to live together. This project seeks to contribute to peaceful coexistence between children and young people from different origins living in Turkey.

The UEFA Foundation for Children and the Turkish Football Federation hope to stimulate joy and unity and prevent the occurrence of violence. Football with other recreational and support activities play an important role in helping children and youth respond to the post trauma challenges posed by their displacement, and the impact of conflicts on their lives.

Quote from Nihat Özdemir

TFF is very glad to enter in this project with the Foundation and to contribute to helping children and youth to respond to numerous challenges. Football is a great unifier and can help children to learn to live together and improve their lives. TFF Looking forward to the mutual cooperation and will do its best for the success of the project.

Quote from Aleksander Ceferin

When a child plays football, he gets lost in the game. Football enables them to be children and dream big. We are pleased to partner with the Turksih Football Federation to use football as a tool to unite cultures and establish mutual understanding and respect.

Project partner

http://www.tff.org

Amputee kids stand for equality at Super Cup final

Any dream can become true if you truly believe

Since it was established in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has become a key presence at the UEFA Super Cup, demonstrating that football, and sport in general, has a positive impact on children and can change the outlook of even the most vulnerable.

This year in Istanbul, at the opening ceremony, a mixed choir of amputee kids from the Turkish Sports Federation for the Physically Disabled and the singers of the Turkish Radio and Television’s polyphonic children’s choir, will perform Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’.

The support of the players of Liverpool and Chelsea will highlight that football leaves no one aside, a strong message of integration, solidarity and hope. The youngsters will have the chance to meet players from both teams and kick a few balls around.

UEFA’s president and the chairman of the UEFA Foundation for Children, Aleksander Čeferin, will also promote this message during the cup ceremony, where he will be accompanied by Ali Turganbekov, a young Kazak boy with no legs, who has a passion for football and dreams of becoming a Paralympic champion.

“The children from the choir and Ali Turganbekov demonstrate that strong beliefs in their dreams can help them overcome many obstacles,” said Aleksander Čeferin. “We pay respect to all disabled children in football or other sports, who give their best and lead an active lifestyle. We hope they will motivate many others to follow their example. Moments like this can make all the difference.”

Mr Arif Ümit Uztürk , the president of the Turkish Sports Federation for the Physically Disabled added:

“We are very happy that the UEFA Super Cup Final will be held in our country and to see our amputee football players take part in this event. On 14 August, we will experience one of the best examples of the unifying power of football. We welcome the teams, spectators and all guests for the UEFA Super Cup Final."

Kick for Trade – UEFA Foundation for Children and ITC team up for youth social inclusion

Kick for Trade - UEFA Foundation for Children and ITC team up for youth social inclusion

New pilot initiative harnesses football to boost youth employment and inclusive development

Today, at the 53rd Joint Advisory Group session of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UEFA Foundation for Children and ITC announced their joint involvement in ‘football for development’ programmes in Guinea and The Gambia. The letter of intent was signed by UEFA Foundation for Children secretary general Urs Kluser and International Trade Centre executive director Arancha González.

Globally, over 59 million young people are unemployed and nearly 136 million are working yet living in poverty. Youth access to decent employment opportunities and their potential for creating their own enterprises are often hindered by external factors, such as a skills mismatch or a lack of access to financing. These barriers prevent them from utilising their skills, having their voices heard, and actively shaping an environment of decent work and successful trade.

Sport, and football in particular, is increasingly recognised as an effective tool for community development and addressing social issues. Football for development programmes provide people from different backgrounds with the skills and resources to actively make a difference in their own lives and in their community. By addressing the most pressing issues in each community, the programmes contribute to positive social change.

With youth employability at the forefront of their strategic agendas, the ITC and the UEFA Foundation will this year focus on football for development and youth empowerment activities. The Kick for Trade initiatives in this letter of intent will offer innovative, result-oriented approaches to shape youth entrepreneurship and employment through sport, and particularly football.

Announcing the new partnership ITC Executive Director Arancha González said: “Through Kick for Trade, ITC and the UEFA Foundation aim ensure that youth are part of the game and are resources to be taken seriously. In Guinea and the Gambia, we will demonstrate that it is possible to have fun while learning new skills, and that vocational training, entrepreneurship and football can be a winning formula.’

UEFA Foundation for Children’s secretary general, Urs Kluser said: “Football for development programmes comprise messages and methodologies that reinforce social and economic inclusiveness for youth in many countries. This partnership will allow both the UEFA Foundation and the ITC to keep the ball rolling for the benefit of young people.”

The initial focus of this partnership will be on country-based approaches that take local dynamics and networks into account and that scale up activities together with local incubators, youth associations and youth centres.

Through Kick for Trade, ITC and the UEFA Foundation aim ensure that youth are part of the game and are resources to be taken seriously. In Guinea and the Gambia, we will demonstrate that it is possible to have fun while learning new skills, and that vocational training, entrepreneurship and football can be a winning formula.

- Arancha González, ITC Executive Director

International Trade Centre (ITC)

Project partner

About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Call for projects 2019

On 1 July the UEFA Foundation for Children launched its 2019 call for projects that seek to promote children’s fundamental rights across the globe.

This call for projects is aimed at any organisation that shares the values of the UEFA foundation and proposes practical measures to help children, in the areas of access to sport, health, education, employment, personal development and supporting vulnerable children.
Applications are invited from organisations anywhere in the world. Support is not limited to projects within Europe.

Eligibility criteria

The UEFA Foundation for Children will examine and evaluate each project.

The final decision on the selection of projects will be taken by the board of trustees in accordance with the foundation’s statutes and ethics code.
Specific conditions relating to funding are provided in the project criteria.

To submit your project, click on this link. The application deadline is 31 July 2019.

Candidates will be notified of the progress of their application by the end of 2019.

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.

Winners of 2019 UEFA Foundation for Children Awards announced

Awards go to 22 European organisations supporting disadvantaged children

On 29 May 2019, the Board of Trustees of the UEFA Foundation for Children met in Baku – under the stewardship of its chairman, Aleksander Čeferin.

During the session, the board members selected the 2019 UEFA Foundation for Children award winners. Since 2015, this price is rewarding the great work of charity foundations or associations safeguarding the rights of vulnerable children. For the third time, it was decided to involve the 55 UEFA member associations to nominate charity organisations from their own country in accordance with the following criteria:

All award recipients must be based in the country of a UEFA member association.
Potential recipients must accept and comply with the foundation charter and ethics code.
Potential recipients must have been registered with the relevant national authorities for at least three years and comply with national legal obligations.
The activities carried out by recipients must be aimed at helping vulnerable, deprived or socially excluded children, and must never involve the promotion of talented young footballers.
UEFA member associations whose nominated charity received funding as part of the 2018 Foundation for Children Awards will not be given priority in 2019.

Award presentation video.

A total of 26 national associations submitted nominations, four of which had already received support from the foundation in 2018. The Board of Trustees decided to divide the total amount of funding available – €1m – equally between the remaining nominees, with the 22 organisations below each receiving a €45’500 grant:

National association	Recipient organisation
Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation	Foundation for development and improvement of sports and recreational activities
Bulgarian Football Union	Football Club Tang RA
Croatian Football Federation	The Ivan Štark centre for education and rehabilitation
Danish Football Association	DIF get2sport
German Football Association	LitCam
Royal Spanish Football Federation	Red Deporte y Cooperacíon
Football Association of Ireland	The Down Syndrome Centre
Football Association of the Czech Republic	Safety Line
Football Federation of Ukraine	Football Development in Ukraine
Hellenic Football Federation	Mazi gia to Paidi
Hungarian Football Federation	Janos Farkas
Irish Football Association	Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issuses
Italian Football Association	Special Olympics Italia
Football Federation of Kosovo	The Ideas Partnership
Malta Football Association	St Joseph Home
Football Association of Moldova	Dinamo Plus
Football Association of Serbia	KMF Mungosi
Swiss Football Association	Pro Juventus
Swedish Football Association	Heart United
English Football Association	Colour Blind Awareness CIC
Football Union of Russia	Unity
Football Association of Wales	Cardiff City FC Community

After the selection, Urs Kluser, the foundation’s general secretary said: “We are very pleased to use the UEFA Foundation for Children awards to support great European charity organisations put forward by our member associations. We have awarded grants to 22 organisations that help vulnerable children live a better life. A total of €3 million has been granted over the last three years.”

2019 call for projects

The UEFA Foundation for Children will launch a new call for projects on July 1st, 2019 for a period of 1 month. Applicants from all over the world have the possibility to submit their projects on our official website, where all the necessary information and the selection criteria will be published. The board of trustees will decide on projects and announce its decisions at their next meeting in November.

We are very pleased to use the UEFA Foundation for Children awards to support great European charity organisations put forward by our member associations. We have awarded grants to 22 organisations that help vulnerable children live a better life. A total of €3 million has been granted over the last three years.

- Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the Foundation

Football in More - Liechtenstein - team photo

Football Is More - Liechtenstein

Amp Futbol Polska - Poland

German youth amputee footballer helps design 2020 UEFA Super Cup match ball