In Ivano-Frankivsk, the opening of archery and football sports groups for children took place with the participation of coaches and outstanding athletes from the Kharkiv region, who were forced to evacuate since the start of the full-scale invasion. The opening of sports groups was made possible thanks to the “Sports Mentor” program of the Parimatch Foundation.
Coaches from Kharkiv continue to support children in a new region by engaging them into sports and new victories. The launch of the program in the Ivano-Frankivsk region was attended by representatives of the international charitable foundation Parimatch Foundation as well as representatives of the leadership of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, local authorities and the Olympic Committee..
— A dialogue between government, business, society and charitable organizations is very important. We regularly communicate with representatives of the Parimatch Foundation, talk about further plans and discuss the situation in Ivano-Frankivsk. After all, many Ukrainians were relocated to our region from the east of the country — they all need help. We already have a positive experience of cooperation with the Parimatch Foundation and it is important for us to develop this partnership, — said Viktor Kimakovych, Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration.
As part of the “Sports Mentor” program, 20 children will systematically train archery under the guidance of the silver medalist of the XXVII Summer Olympic Games, champion and medalist of the championships of Ukraine, the world and Europe, Kateryna Dubrovina. Kateryna arrived in the Prykarpattia region from Kharkiv in the spring. Now he works in Ivano-Frankivsk and teaches children archery.
— My sports mentor was my father, an honored coach of Ukraine in archery. All advice, on both sports and life, I got from him. And therefore, I understand how important it is to have a person who will point, guide and support you. Thanks to the initiative of the Parimatch Foundation, children from families who do not have financial abilities to support additional classes or attend sections have a chance to play sports, have a favorite hobby and develop themselves. In my turn, I can become the source of support for these children, — emphasized Kateryna Dubrovina.
Prykarpattia has also become a new home for football coaches from Kharkiv. After moving to Ivano-Frankivsk, the coaches of the football club began to resume classes, because sports and training are extremely helpful for people in stressful situations. According to the school, sports help to “get back to yourself” and find the strength to move on.
During the event, a master class in football was held for the wards of the program. It was held for the children by Vladyslav Noskov, the coach of the football academy “Rukh”. Vladyslav and his team are waiting for children who want to play football. Training will take place twice a week.
Support from the Parimatch Foundation makes it possible to cover the organization of training sessions within the comprehensive “Sports Mentor” program and the purchase of sports equipment for children from families in difficult life circumstances, including internally displaced children from different regions of Ukraine. The Foundation engages coaches and athletes in the implementation of the program and helps children, regardless of their life circumstances, to develop confidence and physical and social skills through sports as well as see a positive example of their coach. Now the main goal of launching the program is to engage as many children as possible into sports activities, distract them from current events and help them recover psychologically through sports.
— For us, the “Sports Mentor” program is of great importance, because our goal is to make sports accessible to every child, regardless of social conditions and physical characteristics. The Foundation expands the charitable geography of projects in order to help children overcome stress through involvement in sports. After all, sports serve as an effective tool for dealing with anxiety and ensuring quality leisure time. We are proud to be able to implement, in cooperation with dedicated coaches, such important projects and programs that help children live a happy life, — said Vadym Misiura, the Parimatch Foundation’s Country Director for Ukraine.
The Parimatch Foundation implements programs and projects in the areas of sports, education and children’s mental health, which make it possible to contribute to raising healthy, conscious and happy younger generation, as well as to popularize sports, a healthy lifestyle, motor and physical activity. The Foundation’s activities are aimed at ensuring that every child, regardless of physical characteristics, social restrictions and other possible barriers, has access to education and sports, and their development is physically and mentally healthy. Five comprehensive programs are being implemented in Ukraine: “Yes, I can!”, “Sports Mentor”, “New Physical Culture”, “Help to Ukraine” and “Mental Health”.
The Fund already has a positive experience of cooperation with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Parimatch Foundation has been supporting the Ivano-Frankivsk region as part of the “Help for Ukraine” program. The Foundation has helped to equip temporary shelters located in educational institutions in the region. In March, 600 sleeping kits and food packages were handed over to educational institutions sheltering the highest number of IDPs.
The Foundation also conducted an educational course for IRC psychologists, which was attended by 28 specialists from the region. They actively help children and adults to cope with the psychological trauma resulting from the war.
Thanks to the cooperation of the Regional Military Administration with the Parimatch Foundation, 33 educational institutions of the Ivano-Frankivsk region received 40 packages of sports equipment, each of which contained modern equipment for playing football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess, checkers and darts.
