My

Story

Oleksandr

“I am originally from Donetsk. I have two university degrees – in law and ecology, and now work as a lawyer for a civil rights organisation in Ivano Frankovsk, Western Ukraine.

In Donetsk, I ran my own business, and in my leisure time, I coached a football team for at risk youth. When the war started, I had to leave everything behind. There was about a week between the first and second shelling. It was after the second one that we left, and never returned. My mum and dad remained in Donetsk. In general, it’s the young people that leave, and the old ones stay behind. When we left Donetsk in 2014, my wife was pregnant, so my child was born in Western Ukraine.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk invited me to join the Young Coach Education Programme. I have already been working in grassroots football in Donetsk, and wish to improve the way I work with kids. I would like to learn how to offer more structured outdoor activities for children. For me it is important to not only focus on physical health, but also on mental health, education, as well as team spirit and the emotional needs of children. I believe it is crucial that children feel that they are individuals and that they are worthy.

When working with the kids we are not trying to address political issues or remind them of the war, as this is a sensitive and morbid topic. No conflict is worth losing your blood for.”