Burriana hosts 'Welcome Ukraine' project for refugee integration

Burriana Town Hall welcomes representatives of the European project using sport as a tool for social inclusion for Ukrainian refugees.

Burriana Town Hall during an official reception.
IA

Burriana Town Hall during an official reception.

The Burriana Town Hall has hosted an official reception for members of the European project #WelcomeUkraineProject, an EU-funded initiative aiming to support Ukrainian refugees through sport as a tool for social inclusion.

The 'Welcome Ukraine' project stands out for its cross-cutting approach in the sports and community sphere, bringing together foundations of professional football clubs, grassroots sports clubs, and international entities such as Show Racism the Red Card and Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia. This alliance of entities from different countries combines the strengths of associative networks and local administrations to design safe, accessible, and inclusive environments for the refugee population.
During the institutional visit, the European program's lines of action were highlighted, specifically aimed at enabling children, youth, and women to practice sports and fully develop in their host societies. Burriana Town Hall agreed with the initiative's coordinators on the significant benefits of physical activity for emotional well-being and health, as well as for strengthening participatory bonds and fostering harmonious coexistence.

"From the very beginning, this town hall has been firmly committed to solidarity and welcoming, and we firmly believe that sport is one of the most powerful channels to break down barriers, heal emotional wounds, and build a true community."

Jorge Monferrer · Mayor of Burriana
The mayor emphasized that opening the doors of facilities and supporting these international cooperation networks allows offering children, youth, and women who have fled the war a space for normality, resilience, and coexistence. He assured that Burriana will continue to be a hospitable land that collaborates in providing future tools and resilience to those most in need.