UEFA Foundation for Children
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Article summary
The UEFA Foundation harnesses the power of football to deliver hope of a better future to countless vulnerable children around the world.
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Mission
Since its launch as an independent, charitable organisation in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has been spreading smiles all over the world, based on one guiding principle: every child is a champion!
How? By investing in the power of football and other sports to help deliver better futures for vulnerable children, whether they face personal disabilities or live in disadvantaged communities.
To date, Foundation grants totalling €54 million have helped to finance 577 innovative sports-based projects run by humanitarian organisations, charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other non-profit organisations. In its first 10 years, Foundation support has put a smile on the faces of 4.9 million children in 138 different countries.
"Football is not only about elite competitions. By reaching everyone, it can be a powerful force for positive social change."
As well as financial support, the Foundation also capitalises on the reach and visibility of UEFA competition finals to shine the floodlights on local initiatives that are working to improve young lives. This often sees children that are benefitting from the projects walk on to the pitch hand in hand with players or join the medal ceremony – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Foundation’s tenth birthday celebrations: putting children first
To mark its tenth anniversary, the Foundation and UEFA have allocated €1m to help European football associations support projects and social events that benefit disadvantaged children in their respective countries. As with other Foundation initiatives, associations can use these funds to underwrite collaboration with local non-governmental organisations.
Aleksander Čeferin reflects on ten years of the UEFA FoundationImpact
Over the past ten years, the Foundation has funded more than 577 life-changing projects in 138 countries, from Afghanistan to Zambia, Central America to the Central African Republic, transforming the lives of almost five million children.
You can read more about past, current and future projects on the UEFA Foundation for Children website – where you can also donate to support the UEFA Foundation's work worldwide.
Governance
The Foundation is an independent, charitable organisation governed by Swiss law and monitored by an external auditor. A board of trustees, working on a voluntary basis, oversees the work of a secretariat responsible for day-to-day operations under the supervision of General Secretary Carine N’koué.
In November 2017, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin succeeded José Manuel Durão Barroso as chairman of the UEFA Foundation for Children. The former president of the European Commission had led the charity since its creation.
The UEFA Foundation's general secretary
Donate to the Foundation
You can donate to the UEFA Foundation for Children at the Foundation website. Thank you in advance for your support.
Apply for Foundation support
Each year, the Foundation invites organisations working in one or more of ten clearly defined humanitarian areas of work (see below) to apply for funding support. All projects must align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation's ethics code guides our actions and regulates relations with our partners.
In 2023/24 alone, grants worth a cumulative €4.5 million financed 64 projects, improving thousands of lives on every continent. Our next open call for project funding takes place in June/July 2025. You can learn more and apply for funding at the UEFA Foundation for Children website.
Activities supported by the Foundation
Access to sport
Every child should have the right to play sport. Through projects like VillaGol: Football for Life, which helps young people in Lima, Peru, and Football for Future, which promotes sport and inclusion among children in Ukraine, the UEFA Foundation works with international partners to give more young people the chance to experience the joy of football and other sports.
Personal development
Football can help young people to fulfil their potential by teaching them values that are crucial to life. Line Up, Live Up in Kyrgyzstan and KIFUMPA: Girls United in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – both UEFA Foundation-supported projects – offer real proof of the game's life-changing impact on and off the pitch.
Healthy lifestyle
UEFA Foundation grants encourage the promotion of healthy lifestyles for children and young people – from The Knowledge to Be Healthy project, which works with children in rural Romania, to the Facing Crisis Through Football initiative in Colombia and Venezuela.
Children with disabilities
The UEFA foundation funds projects that empower children with disabilities – such as Sport for Equal Opportunities in Armenia, which removes barriers blocking participation in sport.
Conflict victims
Projects such as the Europe-wide Football for Unity 2.0 and Team Up for Ukraine, and Kick for Hope in Zataari refugee camp in Jordan. All aim to improve the living conditions and protect the rights of displaced children in conflict zones.
Gender equality
UEFA’s efforts to encourage girls and young women to play football are matched by Foundation support for projects that empower young girls. Scoring Girls works with refugee, migrant and underprivileged girls in Germany, while Life Champions 2.0 introduces girls and young women in five European countries to the joy of football.
Employability
The UEFA Foundation works with partners across Europe and beyond on projects that use sport to facilitate young people's integration into communities – both socially and professionally. Life Goals – Future Skills Through Football has benefitted more than 2,000 underprivileged children in Austria.
Infrastructure and equipment
GOAL 4 ALL and Kick for Hope, which support Syrian refugees in Türkiye and Jordan respectively, are just two examples of how the UEFA Foundation uses its support to purchase equipment and build infrastructure that ensures children impacted by humanitarian emergencies can still access sport.
Environmental protection
From Football for Climate Change in Egypt to FOOTBALL4WILDLIFE in Kenya, Foundation grants support initiatives that use football to teach children how to preserve their environment and our ecosystem.
Strengthening partnerships
The UEFA Foundation for Children supports collaborative projects that mobilise sports organisations specialising in development activities. Examples include Together for the Ukrainians in Italy and Football Friends – Together Is OK! in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I am very committed to children’s education and giving young people the educational resources they need to grow up in the best environment. I want to help future generations."
UEFA Foundation Ambassadors
The Foundation can count on the support of two of European football's biggest stars:
• Ivan Rakitić, the Croatian midfielder whose many honours include a UEFA Champions League title with Barcelona, and
• Eugénie Le Sommer, France’s all-time record goalscorer and an eight-time winner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Ivan and Eugénie are UEFA Foundation for Children Ambassadors, promoting the organisation’s mission and impact around the world.
"To be a part of the UEFA foundation family … gives me a lot of responsibility to show everyone that together with all the players we can accomplish a lot and, above all, help children all over the world smile with joy."
Useful resources
UEFA Foundation for Children website
Charter of the UEFA Foundation for Children
Ethics Code
Reports and other documents
Latest news
UEFA Foundation Activity Report 2023/24