World Children’s Day: Giving every child an opportunity to play
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
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On 20 November, we celebrate World Children’s Day by highlighting our work to encourage youngsters across the world to take up the beautiful game in a safe and nurturing environment.
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As highlighted in UEFA's new strategy United for Success, our mission is to empower football’s place in every community across Europe, preserving the integral link between grassroots football and elite competitions. Children are an integral part of this vision and we are committed to ensuring that every child has opportunities to play, grow and develop, whether it is to play with friends, in a club or up to the elite level.
UEFA Foundation for Children
Through the UEFA Foundation for Children, we strive to support and fund projects that use football as a tool to promote social change and improve children's lives. UEFA initiatives focus on education, health, integration and personal development, providing a better future for the next generation. Since its launch in 2015, it has funded 577 projects in 138 countries, helping more than 3.2 million children.
Football in Schools
Our Football in Schools programme aims to integrate football into the school curriculum, promoting physical activity, teamwork and a healthy lifestyle. By collaborating with schools, we create a fun and engaging environment where children can enjoy the benefits of playing football.
Thanks to the UEFA Football in Schools programme, more than three million children across Europe have enjoyed access to the game since its launch in 2020.
Millions more will now get the same opportunity after Football in Schools was renewed for four more years, with a further €11 million to be invested in the programme through to 2028.
UEFA Playmakers
UEFA Playmakers, in partnership with Disney, is designed to inspire girls aged 5–8 to take up football. Through movement, play and the magic of Disney storytelling, we create an enjoyable and supportive atmosphere that encourages young girls to take their first steps in the sport.
This year, Inside Out 2 became the latest film to join UEFA Playmakers, alongside Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated musical comedy Encanto, Disney and Pixar’s The Incredibles 2, Disney’s Frozen 2 and Disney’s Moana.
To date, 121,846 girls have taken part in the UEFA Playmakers programme across 46 national associations, with 7,420 specialised coaches trained.
UEFA Child and Youth Protection
Our mission is to inspire and activate collective action to ensure that football is safe and enjoyable for all children.
We have developed competition-specific guidelines to ensure children and youngsters participating in football activities are safe while they enjoy themselves.
In partnership with Terre des hommes, we created a platform that offers resources to enhance children’s safety and provides the football community with guidance, knowledge and understanding of child safeguarding.
For more resources and educational material visit: https://www.uefa-safeguarding.eu/
An integral part of our sustainability strategy
Child and youth protection is integral to UEFA’s football sustainability strategy Strength through Unity. Under this policy, UEFA focuses on protecting the rights of children and youths playing or participating in football through preventive measures to minimise the chances of harm occurring and responsive actions to ensure that, when concerns do arise, they are handled effectively and appropriately.