Andriy Shevchenko working with programs to help Ukrainian refugee children

Former Dynamo Kiev, Milan and Chelsea player and Ukraine captain and coach, Andrei Shevchenko, visited on Monday one of Save the Children's summer schools in Poland where it promotes education, mental health and psychosocial well-being of young Ukrainian refugees.

The 2004 Ballon d'Or winner visited TeamUP, an intervention designed to improve the mental health and psychological well-being of children through play, an initiative developed and delivered by War Child and Save the Children and supported by Laureus Sport for Good, of which he is an ambassador.

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Shevchenko said, "Nearly three million children in Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes in the last five months as a result of the conflict. The physical impact of the war is obvious, but we cannot forget the psychological impact on these young people. It is not enough to take a child out of war. We have to take the war out of the children."

The former footballer added: "Sport has an incredible power to break down barriers and create hope in times of despair. At this Warsaw school we have seen the best of sport and play in action during TeamUp's fun and constructive activities. I am proud and grateful that Laureus supports initiatives like this, working in partnership with War Child and Save the Children to help these children and their families. We must continue to work together for the future of these children.”

Child refugees must continue their education

Since the start of the war, there have been at least 5.8 million refugees from Ukraine across Europe, half of whom are estimated to be children and many of whom have not had access to education for weeks.