Supporting children from frontline regions: the “Girls’ League of Unity” football tournament took place in Kyiv
The Rokada Charitable Foundation and the Ukrainian Association of Football held the fourth annual football tournament for children from socially vulnerable groups. The programme ran from 30 April to 2 May and consisted of two parts: the competition itself and psychosocial activities. This time, girls’ teams from eight frontline regions of Ukraine took part. Players aged 12–14 played matches at the Viktor Bannikov Stadium in Kyiv. The award ceremony was held there too, with women’s national team players Daria Apanashchenko and Veronika Andrukhiv.
This year, the organisers focused on women’s football. Teenage girls from frontline communities face double pressure from living under constant shelling and from gender stereotypes. What’s more, each of them has to overcome the consequences of the war – the loss of home and friends, moving to a new place, growing up as an orphan or without parental care.
So the aim of the tournament is to create a space of safety and respect where participants can feel confident and play on equal terms.
80 girls aged 12–14 took part in the competition. Each team consisted of 10 players representing their region – Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Odesa.
The final matches between teams from both groups took place on 2 May and determined the tournament’s prize-winners. Results of the competition:
Above all, this tournament was a friendly one. Its main task was to preserve girls’ football in the regions and create conditions for the development, socialisation and support of young players.
IRYNA KOROLCHUK,
Project Manager at the Rokada Charitable Foundation:
Some won a prize, and for others this experience was a debut and another step on the way to future victories. But the most important thing is that it was not just a game but real teamwork, where the players felt and supported one another. Maximum emotions and impressions! I believe the girls will keep training hard and reach new heights. And we will be there for them.
After the matches, a festive award ceremony took place – all participants and finalists received prizes and creative gifts. Star guests also joined the event: players of the Metalist 1925 women’s football club, national team forward Veronika Andrukhiv and legendary footballer and Ukrainian football record holder Daria Apanashchenko. They personally presented the awards and also gave away women’s national team shirts signed by Daria and football boots. The game was commentated by well-known blogger and stand-up comedian Oleksandr Potupa.
ANASTASIIA KLIPACHENKO,
Head of the UAF Women’s and Girls’ Football Committee:
The Girls’ League of Unity is exactly the cohesion we saw over these two days. Unity of coaches and teams – and unity is also about partners. Together with the Rokada team, we achieved an important goal – to hold a football celebration for children from regions where explosions are heard every day. I am glad that national team and Metalist 1925 players Daria Apanashchenko and Veronika Andrukhiv joined the award ceremony. They became real role models for our young participants – an example of strength and dedication to their favourite sport.
In addition to the matches, the organisers held activities aimed at children’s psychological recovery. The girls attended motivational trainings, workshops and museum tours, and relaxed at an entertainment centre.
This year, the Girls’ League of Unity was supported by representatives of the civil society and business sectors – AVALON GROUP LLC, the tournament’s water partner, and the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation.
This initiative became possible because the Rokada Charitable Foundation won the global open competition Action for Women’s Health, funded by Pivotal and coordinated by Lever for Change.
