2023-06-13 12:53:27
More than 40 children experienced the magic of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final thanks to the UEFA Foundation for Children and Turkish NGO Bonyan.
All of these children are from communities affected by the devastating February earthquake that hit southeastern Turkey and Syria. They were given a welcome breather as Manchester City beat Inter 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
Children are members of At least, an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to develop human skills and reintegrate members of conflict-torn communities in the Middle East. Thanks to the invaluable support of the UEFA Foundation for Children, these children had a unique opportunity to experience the action up close. Some even had the chance to enter the stadium with the players before the match as player escorts.
Mohammed, player guide
I was really happy to watch the game and see Haaland! I’m super happy because Manchester City won.
The excitement began on Friday with an incredible surprise: the children were able to attend the teams’ final training sessions at the stadium. The Inter and City players took the time to greet their young supporters, which surprised and delighted them. National heroes Hakan Çalhanoğlu and İlkay Gündoğan spoke to the children and signed autographs before the last surprise of the day: meeting the big-eared trophy.
Marwa, player guide
It was exceptional to be able to be there with the referees, to be so close to the trophy and to carry the ball with which Manchester City and Inter were going to play.
It was one of my dreams and I never thought I would have such a chance one day. It was a nice and special feeling at the same time, especially when the winning team celebrated their success.
Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has been committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people through football. His unwavering support for the Bonyan organization and his active participation in the Champions League final illustrate his promise to use football as a vehicle for positive change.
The Foundation supports the “Goal-4-all” project of the Bonyan organization with EUR 200,000. The main goal of the project is to promote peaceful coexistence between children from different communities, including refugees and inhabitants of host communities, using sport as an engine of integration. Thanks to this initiative, Turkish and Syrian children have regular access to sports facilities. At the same time, special attention is paid to creating integration opportunities for girls and children with special needs.
Tarek Alfaraj, program manager at the Bonyan organization
We express our sincere gratitude to FedEx Express and the UEFA Foundation for Children for their invaluable partnership following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. Together, we provided vital assistance, raised awareness and highlighted the essential work of the Bonyan organization. This collaboration strengthens our determination to serve communities in need. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to social responsibility and your positive impact on people’s lives.
Earthquake Special Fund
Supported by UEFA and its partners, the UEFA Foundation for Children is appealing for donations to provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake, especially children.
These funds will be distributed to various active partners within the communities concerned. These partners not only provide psychological support to children through football-related initiatives, but also help with the reintegration and integration of children seriously injured during the earthquake.
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