Representatives of the international charitable organization Parimatch Foundation together with the Ivano-Frankivsk Military Administration officials and representatives of local government visited general secondary educational institutions: Kalush Lyceum No. 5 and Bolekhiv Lyceum No. 1 «Academschnyi», which became temporary shelters for IDPs. The trip's purpose was to deliver sports equipment provided as part of the «New physical education» program, for the local students and internally displaced children.
The official representative of the Parimatch Foundation in Ukraine, Vadym Misyura, the deputy head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional military administration Vitaly Ilchyshyn, and the director of the department of education and science Viktor Kimakovich transferred the sports equipment to children in Kalush and Bolekhiv. Andrii Naida, head of the Kalush City Council, and Ivan Yatsynin, head of the Bolekhiv City Council, also participated in the event.
— Prykarpattia became a temporary shelter for tens of thousands of families with children who were forced to leave their homes due to hostilities. We try to provide IDPs with everything they need. The physical and mental health of our children deserves special attention. Thanks to the cooperation of the regional military administration with the Parimatch Foundation, 33 educational institutions of the Ivano-Frankivsk region received 40 sets of sports equipment, each of which contains modern equipment for playing football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess, checkers, and darts. This will contribute to the involvement of IDPs children in sports, strengthen their health, and allow our children, who have now become one big family, to spend good leisure time, — noted the deputy head of the Ivano-Frankivsk RMA Vitaly Ilchyshyn.
To greet the guests the students of the Kalush Lyceum organized a patriotic flash mob. Children who were forced to move to Kalush and now study at this educational institution also took part in it. The children of Bolekhiv Lyceum together with the coaches appreciated the gift and immediately started training in the gym.
— We received two sports sets from the Parimatch Foundation for the educational institution where the IDPs are currently staying. Children need it very much now, because sports contribute to quick rehabilitation, help overcome stress and stay healthy. Therefore, we are grateful to the Foundation and the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration for supporting our children and we hope to continue fruitful cooperation by joining the other projects as well, — said Ivan Yatsynin, the head of Bolekhiv City Council.
Parimatch Foundation purchased 200 sports sets for a total of UAH 2 million as a part of the «New physical education» program. The Foundation distributes them in the regions of Ukraine where shelters for internally displaced persons with children have been arranged.
— We realize that mental health is one of the main factors in children’s rehabilitation and adaptation to a new stage of life. Sport helps overcome stress and stay healthy. Therefore, we join efforts with local government institutions and public sector representatives to scale social projects and programs to help as many children as possible. We believe that children can return to active and happy lives as soon as possible, and sports will help them, — says the official representative of the Parimatch Foundation in Ukraine Vadym Misyura.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Parimatch Foundation has cooperated with the Ivano-Frankivsk region as a part of the «Help to Ukraine» program. The Foundation helped to arrange temporary shelters located in educational institutions in the region. In March, 600 sleeping places were arranged there, as well as food kits were delivered to educational institutions where the largest number of IDPs stayed.
The Parimatch Foundation’s activity in the Ivano-Frankivsk region is not limited to providing humanitarian aid. The Foundation has also launched an educational course for ICR psychologists attended by 28 local specialists. They have already worked with IDPs, both children, and adults, using gained methods. It is to be noted, that thanks to the initiative of the Foundation “Psychological support in crisis” course has been coached by the representatives of the Israeli Trauma Coalition.
