Streetkids

March 23, 2010, Donetsk.

Mini-football tournament was a start for the project “Green Football for Children Health”, organized by Odessa Charity Fund “The Way Home” in cooperation with UN Children Foundation (UNICEF) and with support of Coca-Cola foundation. The aim of the “Green Football for Children Health” project – is to unite children from the vulnerable families, from shelters and homeless children in “verdure” of a football team in three cities of Ukraine – Kiev, Odessa and Donetsk, providing an alternative to the unhealthy and risky life style. Such teams will be formed in purpose to play football as well as to scavenge the territory.

Odessa Fund “The Way Home” received a grant from Coca-Cola foundation for realization of this ambitious project. During February and March, in the first stage of the project teams were formed, children had a chance to practice and to participate in the selection games indoors in Kiev, Odessa and Donetsk. Teams from these cities came to Donetsk for final competitions and for the first scavenging in 2010. Exactly here on March 22 the scavenging took place in the Lenin Komsomol park. 30 children-members of teams participated in this. And the next day they all took part in the mini-football tournament in Donbass Arena stadium where FIFA cup was represented on March 24.

For noble efforts directed on environment protection and active life style all participants of the tournament were invited to visit the ceremony of FIFA cup opening and have a photo taken near it. During the next stage of the project which will last April through September children from orphanages and shelters of Kiev, Donetsk and Odessa will organize teams, in order to show their appreciation of the environment on their own example, they will be scavenging territory and then play football. In general, this project aims to involve up to 500 children and carry out 30 such events.

Anna Suhodolska, coordinator of the project from the UNICEF side: “Experience shows us that young people are ready to resolutely change their life style, if they have such an alternative like sport. Besides that the issue of protection of environment becomes more and more critical in the Ukrainian society and it is especially important for the future of our children. This project is a good example of successful integration of efforts by public organizations and business in order to constantly develop society for the interests of children”.

Olesya Zhulinska, director of public relations of Coca-Cola Company Ukraine: “Coca-cola always brings happiness and bright events, such as for example arrival of FIFA cup to Ukraine. Coca-Cola Company works in more than 200 countries in the world and it is famous with its active social attitude and support of projects, directed on first of all environmental protection and propaganda of active, healthy life style. That is why charity organization of company – Coca-Cola foundation – supports the project, which aims on development of environmental culture and favors healthy life style”.