Shakhtar Social: results of the Pace for Health international project
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
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More than 200 children took part in football training sessions, 60 attended international sports camps, and a coaching manual was developed on using football to support the social integration of internally displaced children
The results of the international Pace for Health project were presented on October 28 in Lviv during the 6th All-Ukrainian Sports Marketing Conference SBC Summit Ukraine 2026, which brought together around 700 representatives of sports organisations, businesses and the media.
Over the two years of the initiative, more than 200 boys and girls took part in football training sessions at 5 locations across Ukraine. A total of 100 football sessions were held, and 60 children attended 2 international sports camps in Italy and Greece.
Over the two years of the initiative, more than 200 boys and girls took part in football training sessions at 5 locations across Ukraine. A total of 100 football sessions were held, and 60 children attended 2 international sports camps in Italy and Greece.
The Pace for Health project brought together Ukrainian and European partners to support children through football
Iryna Matviichuk, Social Project Manager at Shakhtar Social:
– The Pace for Health project brought together Ukrainian and European partners to support children through football. We achieved significant results and gained valuable experience. We can see the real impact on children, coaches and Ukrainian communities. It is important to us that this experience and the tools we have developed continue to be put into practice. Alongside the practical sessions, another important outcome was the development of an interactive manual for coaches working with internally displaced children in cooperation with Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University. The manual combines football exercises with the principles of inclusive and trauma-informed approaches, includes QR codes linking to video demonstrations of exercises recorded at the FC Shakhtar Academy and helps coaches adapt their sessions to the needs of children who have experienced forced displacement.
Pace for Health aims to support children, particularly internally displaced persons, through football. The initiative seeks to promote their social adaptation and integration and to create a safe and inclusive environment for sports activities.
The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission’s European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for the content.
– The Pace for Health project brought together Ukrainian and European partners to support children through football. We achieved significant results and gained valuable experience. We can see the real impact on children, coaches and Ukrainian communities. It is important to us that this experience and the tools we have developed continue to be put into practice. Alongside the practical sessions, another important outcome was the development of an interactive manual for coaches working with internally displaced children in cooperation with Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University. The manual combines football exercises with the principles of inclusive and trauma-informed approaches, includes QR codes linking to video demonstrations of exercises recorded at the FC Shakhtar Academy and helps coaches adapt their sessions to the needs of children who have experienced forced displacement.
Pace for Health aims to support children, particularly internally displaced persons, through football. The initiative seeks to promote their social adaptation and integration and to create a safe and inclusive environment for sports activities.
The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission’s European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for the content.