This year, the UEFA Foundation for Children presented its annual awards to 26 organisations that work every day to improve the lives of vulnerable children. This recognition is part of UEFA's wider initiative to support local projects that, through football and sport, create better living conditions and development for children in Europe and beyond.
The awards are presented to organizations nominated by the national football associations, members of UEFA.
This year, the Football Federation of Macedonia nominated the elementary school and resource center "Idnina" as a candidate from our country that is successfully working to create inclusive practices that leave a lasting impact.
Ourc "Idnina" is among the winners from other countries that work with children with disabilities and vulnerable categories of children, such as: England: Make-A-Wish UK, Germany: AMANDLA EduFootball, Italy: Soleterre, Spain: Babies Uganda, Sweden: Min Stora Dag (My Special Day) and many others from countries such as Austria, Belgium, Greece, Serbia, Russia, Ireland, Norway, etc.
On November 28, the 'Touch the Goal' project, funded by the prize money, was promoted at the Holiday Inn. The event was addressed by the school's principal, Loreta Andreevska, the Secretary General of the FFM, Leonid Jandreoski, Sasho Ognjenoski, State Secretary at the Ministry of Sports, and Dušan Tomišić, President of the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination.
"The strategic mission of the FFM is to provide integrative opportunities and rights for all, in a safe, healthy football and living environment. Based on our strategic commitment, and due to the successful work in the field of inclusion of the Idnina Primary School and Resource Center, we nominated them as a candidate from our country for the annual award from the UEFA Foundation for Children.
The project "Touch the Goal - Football for Every Child" is more than raising awareness, it is building capacities and knowledge on how to work with special categories of children, who are in principle the most vulnerable categories who need the most support to feel included.They are part of the team. Together with Idnina and other stakeholders – teachers and parents – we will create equal opportunities for all, by supporting students with autism and other complex educational needs.
"The project will connect schools, children, coaches and families through football," he said in his address. Leonid Jandreoski.
The inclusive football program will be designed to support students with autism and other complex educational needs, who often face barriers to participating in sports activities.
Project activities will provide: customized sports equipment for the target group, structured training for teaching and professional staff, organized peer support, aiming at active inclusion, equal opportunities and social interaction through football.
The speeches were followed by a presentation of the project by the director and a panel discussion with a physical education teacher, a special educator and rehabilitator, and educational assistants.
