The UEFA Foundation for Children has published its 2022/23 activity report, detailing 65 supported projects around the world.
In the face of adversity, humanity’s resilience, compassion and courage shone bright this past year.
Turkey and Syria have suffered a first earthquake that has affected more than 10 million people, while the war has continued to wreak havoc in Ukraine, boosting the UEFA Children’s Foundation and the European football community. Despite these challenges, the base remains committed to helping vulnerable groups, focusing on young women, refugees and other internally displaced people on five continents.
Here, we highlight some of the 65 projects supported over the past year and the positive effect of the foundation’s work on local associations and communities, demonstrating the power of football to motivate young people and foster their dreams of a better future.
During their trip to Africa, the UEFA President and UEFA Children’s Foundation President Aleksander Ceferin visited the Acholi slum in Kampala, Uganda, which is home to around 20,000 people.
In Acholi, the non-governmental organization Aliguma Foundation is building sports facilities, training coaches, and creating social and economic opportunities for 2,500 young people and 850 caregivers.
Supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children, the Aliguma Foundation aims to use football to improve the lives of young people in slum communities. The initiative empowers beneficiaries to build better lives for themselves and their families by facilitating access to education, essential health care and football training for children.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President
“Football is the hardest thing in the world. It’s not just about elite competitions, but it can also be a force for good. “
The UEFA Foundation provides emergency aid to two regions in crisis in 2022/23: Ukraine, which is entering its second year of war, as well as southern Turkey and northern Syria, which were hit by a series of major earthquakes in February 2023.
In Ukraine, the foundation has set up a €100,000 emergency fund for young people and refugees and donated a total of €1. 3 million to aid initiatives, supporting three initiatives:
In Turkey and Syria, UEFA and the UEFA Children’s Foundation have made an initial donation of €200,000 for a primary humanitarian operation following two devastating earthquakes. The budget was allocated to the Turkish Football Federation, Bonyan and the International Integration Assistance Team (TIAFI). , two NGOs operating on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian border. UEFA’s member associations followed suit with a combined donation of €877,500.
Gender-based violence is among the highest in the world in the Pacific region, where women suffer abuse and violence and are underrepresented in decision-making bodies. To help address this issue, the UEFA Foundation supports projects that provide access to the game. for all, selling tolerance, diversity and social inclusion in Oceania.
Through the Just Play project, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) aims to tackle the causes of gender-based violence so that women and women in all their diversity can live in a global environment free of abuse. The projects are based on respect for differences. and celebrating diversity, coaching youth and adults on how to resolve conflicts without violence and how to deal with anger and frustration.
Another supported project is This Is How We Do Football, which uses the game to promote gender equality and fight violence against girls and boys.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the base was thrilled to be able to resume its wish-granting program last season.
In collaboration with the Etoile Filante Foundation, the foundation aims to make the dreams of young people with chronic or serious illnesses come true, by creating unforgettable football reports for brave young people and their families.
Last season, 8 brave saw their dreams come true, meeting their favorite players and attending featured matches from the groups they support.
Key figures for the 2022/2023 season
© 1998-2024 UEFA. All rights reserved