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FAQs

When, how and by whom was the UEFA Foundation for Children established?

On 26 March 2014, at the 38th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Astana, the UEFA President, Michel Platini, stressed UEFA’s desire to enable more people to benefit from football’s role in society. With the support of the UEFA Executive Committee and the approval of UEFA’s member associations, he announced the creation of the UEFA Foundation for Children, declaring:

This foundation will help us […] to preserve the magic of football and give hope to those children who need it most. This is a great project […] and a cause that is particularly close to my heart.

The UEFA Foundation for Children was established in 2015.

What is the legal status of the UEFA Foundation for Children and how is it organised?

The UEFA Foundation for Children was set up in early 2015 on the initiative of UEFA. The foundation is registered in Nyon (Switzerland) as a non-profit organisation and is governed by Swiss law.

It is managed by its Board of Trustees and acts in the interests of its direct beneficiaries.
The UEFA Foundation for Children is supervised by the Swiss federal supervisory board for foundations, which is attached to the general secretariat of the Swiss federal department of home affairs.

I am a private individual and I need help financing a project. Can you help me?

Unfortunately, the UEFA Foundation for Children does not provide any financial assistance or assistance in kind to private individuals. It carries out projects in specific countries in partnership with specific non-profit organisations.

What do your activities on the ground consist of?

In the case of all projects, regardless of the context (including crisis situations and development projects), the UEFA Foundation for Children works in support of specific partner organisations, placing children right at the heart of its strategy. Partner organisations are required to ensure that the beneficiaries of those projects (i.e. children and their families) gradually take responsibility for their own development.

Wherever possible, the foundation makes use of existing networks within the countries in question (local aid organisations, regional or government bodies, etc.), giving financial support to those organisations in order to help them to act. Different types of partnership are established with those organisations in order to achieve the foundation’s objectives.

Moreover, projects that are supported/financed by the foundation are subject to quality standards, which means that they are assessed and have to comply with the foundation’s Ethics Code.

How do you ensure that funds given to you are used in an appropriate manner? Can I donate money to you with complete confidence?

The foundation is committed to achieving its objectives in a manner befitting a charitable organisation.

Our objective is to help disadvantaged children. We are establishing and developing assessment mechanisms to evaluate all initiatives that are financed/supported by the foundation and ensure that they are consistent with the values set out in the foundation’s Ethics Code.

The foundation’s accounts are audited by an independent body and published on its website every year.

The UEFA Foundation for Children is also supervised by the Swiss federal supervisory board for foundations. That public body, which is responsible for the supervision of foundations on behalf of the federal government, operates at both national and international level. Its supervisory activities are essentially based on the case law of Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court regarding Article 84(2) of the Swiss Civil Code: “The supervisory authority ensures that the foundation’s assets are used for the intended purpose.”

Who are the beneficiaries of the UEFA Foundation for Children?

The UEFA Foundation for Children seeks to help disadvantaged children – children who need help as a result of physical, mental or psychological problems, because of their social environment, or on account of a crisis situation linked to armed conflict or a natural disaster.

How does the UEFA Foundation for Children define the term ‘child’?

The UEFA Foundation for Children applies the definition set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Etymologically, the word ‘infant’ comes from the Latin ‘infans’, which denotes someone who does not speak. In Roman times, this term was used to refer to anyone under the age of seven. The concept of childhood has evolved considerably over the centuries, as well as varying across cultures, and the word ‘child’ is now used to refer to anyone who has not yet reached adulthood. However, that remains a broad concept, and the age at which people are deemed to become adults varies from culture to culture.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted in 1989, defines the term ‘child’ more precisely as:

Every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.

What is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international agreement that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989.

It specifically stipulates that children’s rights and best interests must be respected, and it was the first legally binding international agreement to confer fundamental rights on children.

How can I request support from the UEFA Foundation for my project?

The UEFA Foundation aims to help children and safeguard their rights. Sport, and football in particular, can provide support in the areas of health and children’s education, as well as promoting access to sporting activity, facilitating children’s personal development and fostering the integration of minorities.

Therefore, UEFA Foundation launches each year a “Call for Project” through this website. The next Call will take place in June/July 2023. Find all the information on how to apply here.

How can my child apply to be a player mascot?

All of the UEFA Foundation’s mascots are local children, depending on the location, for each game, who are part of the foundation’s child support programmes.

Official competition sponsors coordinate the registration of the children. (Mastercard, Fedex, Engelberg Stauss and Just Eat Takeway.com)

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Call for projects

Through the call for projects, we are working to promote the fundamental rights of vulnerable children all over the world.

We welcome applications from any organisation that shares the values of the UEFA Foundation for Children and proposes practical measures to help children in the following areas:

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Access to sport

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Personal development

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Disabled children

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Healthy lifestyle

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Conflict victims

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Gender equality

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Environmental protection

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Employability

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Infrastructure and equipment

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Strengthening partnerships

The foundation’s support is not limited to projects in Europe.

Our core aims are solidarity and development aid, rooted in respect for the ethical values that we share with our partners.

Successful projects must also meet certain criteria set out by the board of trustees.

Selection process

The UEFA Foundation for Children examines and evaluates every project submitted.
The board of trustees takes a final decision on the selection of projects at its autumn meeting in accordance with the Statutes.

Candidate registration platform

Call for projects 2024 is closed.

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Our donors

The foundation surrounds itself with individual and institutional supporters, including friends, partners and donors. The board of trustees nominates ‘Friends of the foundation’.

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

A ‘Friend of the foundation’ is an individual or institution who has demonstrated a particular attachment to the foundation’s cause, whether through their actions, connections or contributions.
At the board of trustees’ first meeting on 23 March 2015, UEFA – the foundation’s founder – was named as a permanent Friend.

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DONORS

A donor is any individual or institution who helps the foundation to achieve its objectives by making a one-off donation or contribution or by leaving a bequest.

SPONSORS

Today, thanks to the growing importance of corporate social responsibility in economic and political life, our foundation’s activities and projects are starting to resonate with numerous new public and private partners who support us financially. The sponsors of UEFA competitions, already involved in the football side of things, are increasingly keen to add a social dimension to their activities.

Logo Fedex
Logo EU
Logo Adidas
Logo HANKOOK
Logo mastercard
Logo Lays
Logo Just eat
Logo Strauss
h&m
visa
Logo Lidl
Logo kaizen
Logo entreprise
Logo topps
Logo EASports
Logo hisense
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Ambassadors of the foundation

Ambassadors named by the board of trustees work to promote the foundation’s activities.

These ambassadors are well-known public figures who use their platform to raise awareness of the plight of children around the world and of the projects supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Their role is to represent the foundation to the public, partners and Friends of the foundation, all the while conveying positive messages about our projects.

 

Ivan Rakitić was the foundation’s first ambassador, appointed in November 2020 - Biography

Eugénie Le Sommer was the foundation’s first female ambassador, appointed in May 2021 - Biography

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A word from the UEFA Foundation for children Chairman

Dear Friends,

Football is not only the number one sport in the world, but is also a great platform to create solidarity projects for those in need. UEFA has always been one of the leading football organisations in social responsibility and sustainability programmes, and the UEFA Foundation for Children has been doing great work since its launch in 2015.

Even though UEFA is the confederation of European football associations, I am pleased to see that the activities of the UEFA Foundation for Children exceed European borders and reach all around the world.

I would like to encourage all of you to join the activities of the UEFA Foundation for Children and become a supporter of this global initiative. With your support and the solidarity of the European football family, we can achieve even more.

Thank you for your support!

Aleksander Čeferin

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Clarence Seedorf

Clarence Seedoorf

Born April 1, 1976 in Suriname, Clarence Seedorf is the most successful footballer in Dutch history and one of the most talented players in football history.

Clarence Seedorf also coached on four continents (South America, Europe, Asia, Africa). Seedorf is one of only six people in the world to have been chosen by Nelson Mandela to be a Legacy Champion.

He is UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity & Change and a member of the FIFA Diversity Award Jury.

Clarence Seedorf holds an honorary degree in humanities along with the highest civil decorations in Suriname and the Netherlands for his contributions to different fields in both countries. He founded the Champions for Children Foundation in 2004 contributing financially to many projects globally and developing a specific IP to create social impact through sport.

Throughout his career, Clarence Seedorf has used sport and its influence to promote change and create a better world. Seedorf speaks six languages, completed his education in business, sports psychology and NLP with prestigious courses, becoming also assistant professor in sports science at Catholic University in Milan.

Clarence Seedorf has been a blogger for the New York Times and travels the world inspiring the next generations, from youth jails in Brazil to students at Oxford University.

Seedorf is currently the Chairman of Black Impact Foundation, a member of the support committee of Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, which promotes scientific research, and a member of the strategic committee of the UN Science Panel for the Amazon.

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Dr. Wladimir Klitschko

Dr. Wladimir Klitschko, born on 25 March 1976 in Kazakhstan, is a Ukrainian former professional boxer and an entrepreneur.

Wladimir Klitschko is not only the combined longest reigning heavyweight boxing champion of all time; he has always seen himself as an entrepreneur. In 2003, he and his brother Vitali started their own business and founded the boxing promotion company K2 Promotions. He also founded the Klitschko Management Group, a sports marketing agency and the Klitschko Foundation, which aims to help children to discover their potential and bring their dreams to life. The foundation has helped more than one million children so far. Together with the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, he set up the CAS Change and Innovation Management programme and the Competence Center for Intrapreneurship. In 2018, he laid the foundations for spreading his F.A.C.E. the Challenge method in the English-speaking part of the world with the start of cooperation with Harvard Business School.

In 2016, he founded KLITSCHKO Ventures, dedicated to building and maintaining a comprehensive, strategic partner network.

Wladimir Klitschko, who earned his PhD in 2001, sees himself as a pioneer transferring his knowledge and experience from over 25 years as a professional athlete to different areas of life.

Wladimir Klitshchko has been a member of the board of trustees of the UEFA Foundation for Children since 29 November 2018.

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Snežana Samardžić-Marković

Ms Snežana Samardžić-Marković is the Director General of Democracy at the Council of Europe since 2002. Under her responsibility, the Directorate General works to help our member states in creating a favourable environment for sustainable democracy and democratic security in Europe.

Three directorates and eight partial agreements under her responsibility are providing guidance, assistance and innovation in the areas of democratic governance, participation and diversity. Her responsibilities include the policy areas of education and youth, local democracy, cultural policies, election assistance, the protection of human dignity, gender equality, children’s rights, and the rights of minorities, work against discrimination, democratic citizenship and democratic responses to crisis situations.

Previously, Ms Samardžić-Marković has held numerous positions in the Serbian Government including as Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Neighbouring Countries; Assistant Minister of Defence (2005-2007) and Co-President of the Serbia-NATO Defence Reform Group; member of the Foundation Board of WADA, Minister of Youth and Sports (2007-2012) and President of the Fund for Young Talents.

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Match for Solidarity helps disabled children around the globe

On 21 April, UEFA and the United Nations Office at Geneva joined forces to stage the Match for Solidarity charity football match.

The match, held at the Stade de Genève in glorious sunshine, proved to be extremely popular, with 23,654 fans turning up to watch Figo’s team triumph 4–3 in an almost sold-out stadium. The overriding aim of the event was to promote peace, human rights and well-being across the world through the the Sustainable Development Goals as set out by the United Nations.

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Field in a Box – Pirapora do Bom Jesus, Brazil

The UEFA Foundation for Children has been running its Field in a Box project since 2016 with the aim of providing enclosed, fully functional artificial football pitches to impoverished communities. These pitches are environmentally sustainable and quick to install.

Konami Holdings Corporation the UEFA Champions League sponsor – was willing to work with the UEFA Foundation for Children and take the Field in a Box concept to Brazil. The global not-for-profit network streetfootballworld helped Konami to identify the location for its pitch – in Pirapora do Bom Jesus, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo – and the local charity Fundação EPROCAD to maintain the pitch and ensure its sustainable use.

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Greg Clarke

Greg Clarke was born in Leicester (England) in 1957 and is married with four adult children.

Over the last 40 years, Greg has worked for and led a variety of blue chip asset-intensive corporations, including group chief executive roles at a FTSE 100 company and an ASX 50 corporation in Sydney. Since 1995 he has held non-executive director positions at various major international organisations, and since 2010 he has chaired various companies and organisations within the plc, sports and government sectors. His career has revolved around planning and delivering multi-billion pound projects with an emphasis on safety and punctual delivery.

From 2010 to 2016, Greg was chairman of the English Football League, before being appointed chairman of The Football Association in September 2016. Prior to that, he was also a director and chairman of Leicester City FC. He has been heavily involved in various initiatives seeking to use the power of football to deliver social change, including (i) acting as an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, the English Football League’s official charity partner, (ii) leading the football community’s fundraising initiative to support survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster, in partnership with Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC (raising £1.5m), and (iii) personally supporting the work of charitable trusts associated with England’s professional clubs.