Among Your Own: an initiative by Shakhtar Social and Heart of Azovstal
Thursday, May 8, 2025
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Shakhtar Social, in collaboration with the Heart of Azovstal NGO, launched the Among Your Own project aimed at supporting the defenders of Mariupol and their families
The Among Your Own initiative seeks to build a community through sport. The project is designed to assist participants with physical and emotional rehabilitation, promote social reintegration and provide meaningful family leisure.
As part of the project, regular football training sessions, fitness and table tennis activities are held. Family events, collective viewings of Shakhtar matches and attendance of the team’s games are also included. Currently, 58 defenders of Mariupol and their family members living in Dnipro have joined the initiative.
Viktor Honcharov, defender of Mariupol:
– During the full-scale invasion, we were encircled: pressure came from the sea, from the air, artillery and tanks were in action, it was extremely difficult, as shells were exploding right nearby. I’m very grateful that such support has become available thanks to the Heart of Azovstal and Shakhtar Social projects after everything we've been through. Now, we have the opportunity to play football, table tennis and spend time with our families in Dnipro. This support is incredibly important during such a difficult time.
One of the project’s most memorable events was a trip to Lviv, during which 20 participants attended the Ukrainian Clasico between Shakhtar and Dynamo. For most, it was their first experience watching the favourite team live since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Dnipro is the first city where the programme has been implemented, but the initiators plan to expand it to other regions where Mariupol veterans and their families reside.
As part of the project, regular football training sessions, fitness and table tennis activities are held. Family events, collective viewings of Shakhtar matches and attendance of the team’s games are also included. Currently, 58 defenders of Mariupol and their family members living in Dnipro have joined the initiative.
Viktor Honcharov, defender of Mariupol:
– During the full-scale invasion, we were encircled: pressure came from the sea, from the air, artillery and tanks were in action, it was extremely difficult, as shells were exploding right nearby. I’m very grateful that such support has become available thanks to the Heart of Azovstal and Shakhtar Social projects after everything we've been through. Now, we have the opportunity to play football, table tennis and spend time with our families in Dnipro. This support is incredibly important during such a difficult time.
One of the project’s most memorable events was a trip to Lviv, during which 20 participants attended the Ukrainian Clasico between Shakhtar and Dynamo. For most, it was their first experience watching the favourite team live since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Dnipro is the first city where the programme has been implemented, but the initiators plan to expand it to other regions where Mariupol veterans and their families reside.
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