Nyon (Switzerland), Dec 17 (IANS): The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Foundation for Children has allocated two million euros (about $2.1 million) to support those most affected by the refugee crisis in 15 countries in the continent, with the aim of offering the youngest children new hope through soccer.

In addition to supporting countries bordering conflict zones, the foundation joined in March initiatives to care for children without families and families with children under five in Macedonia and Greece, reports Efe.

The foundation also created a fund of 1.25 million euros ($1.3 million) to facilitate the integration of young refugees in European countries.

The UEFA Foundation explained that the activities were carried out by 23 NGOs in countries such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Holland, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Serbia and Ukraine.

The initiative includes weekly soccer sessions, tournaments, language courses and training for coaches, and has benefited more than 30,000 people, 65 percent of which are refugee children.