UEFA launches Foundation for Children

In March 2015 UEFA launched its Foundation for Children as a continuation of the organisation's work in promoting the rights of children. During its inaugural meeting, a board of trustees was formed and four projects promoting the rights of children in Jordan, the Pacific, and Europe were approved.

After years of supporting various programmes aiming to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, UEFA launched its Foundation for Children. The foundation will allow for the organisation to play a more active role in promoting the rights of children in Europe and beyond. The foundation will focus on issues relating to health, education, access to sport, law, personal development, and the integration of minorities.

During the inaugural board of trustees meeting on 23 March 2015 in Vienna, José Manuel Durão Barroso, former president of the European Commission, was elected president and a series of initial projects were approved including: football in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan; Just Play in the Pacific to counter child obesity; three projects linked to UEFA EURO 2016 in France; and an autism project in partnership with the Foundation of Applied Disability Research.