UEFA and HNS support the project for people with intellectual disabilities

The Osit association operates in the Krapina-Zagorje County with the aim of improving the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Its activities include providing social services, humanitarian aid, preventing institutionalization, protecting health, and promoting human rights. The organization gathers 120 members and implements programs at both local and national levels, in cooperation with regional and local government units, educational institutions, and the Croatian Institute for Social Work.

The Association operates through three clubs for adults with intellectual disabilities and their family members. Since 2022, it has been providing permanent day care services for 20 users under a contract with the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family, and Social Policy. Its activities also include cooperation with elementary schools to promote the socialization of children with developmental disabilities, prevent violence, raise awareness of their needs, and encourage volunteering and active community participation. Through public works programs, the Association includes people with disabilities in the labor market. Over the years, it has developed partnerships with numerous local institutions, contributing to social welfare reform through the introduction of new support services, such as supported housing.

The funds from this donation will be used to landscape the surroundings of a house currently being adapted to provide supported housing services. A small sports field is planned on the premises, where members of the association will be able to spend their free time.

The Croatian Football Federation has been actively participating in the work of the UEFA Foundation for many years and has successfully nominated eight non-profit organizations from Croatia for donations from the UEFA Foundation for Children. So far, the following organizations have received support: the World Roma Organization in Croatia from Zagreb (2017), the Autism Association “Pogled” from Nedelišće (2018), the Ivan Štark Educational Center from Osijek (2019), the Croatian Down Syndrome Association from Zagreb (2020), the Association of People with Disabilities “Prijatelj” from Metković (2021), the Vatreno Srce Foundation (2023), and the Association of Persons with Disabilities of the Sisak-Moslavina County from Petrinja (2024).

In 2022, UEFA redirected a fund of one million euros to provide emergency aid to children affected by the war in Ukraine and to refugees in neighboring countries—demonstrating its commitment to rapid response in crisis situations.

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