Salesian Missions Provides New Soccer Field for Ukraine Kids

Salesian Missions Provides New Soccer Field for Ukraine Kids

(ANS – Lviv, Ukraine – April 28, 2025) – Salesians in Ukraine were able to construct a new soccer field for students at Blessed Klymenty and Andrey Sheptytskyi School in Lviv, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions of New Rochelle. The donation serves more than 400 students who regularly use the field.

The previous field was in such disrepair that it made it difficult for the students to play at all. It was filled with mud and was uneven. The soccer goals lacked netting, so when a goal was scored the kids had to chase the ball.

A Salesian said, “The new field is bringing a new life for the students, who are more enthusiastic about playing soccer and using the field. Since the beginning of the school year, Salesian priests and soccer coaches have actively conducted soccer activities on the field next to gymnasium. They organized a class schedule to ensure fair playing time for all. In the morning, students are using the field, and after midday the field is used for youths from the Salesian parish.”

Close to the gymnasium is a modular city of Mariapolis, where people who have been internally displaced are living. Among them are youths who are interested in sports. The goal is to reach out to these youths so that they can access the new field. Salesians will also rent the field to raise the funding needed to cover maintenance costs.

One of the beneficiaries currently using the field is Lukyan. He says that he really likes spending time playing soccer and taking part in other sports. He noted that before the renovation the field was too difficult to play on because it had a lot of holes in the ground. He’s looking forward to having the new field to spend even more time playing soccer after school or during the breaks.

Source: Salesian Missions