“It is important for me that children can dream even in the most difficult times November 19, 10:34 Company news Share: Nova poshta The sixth edition of the podcast about the behind-the-scenes life of Ukrainian volunteers from Nova poshta was released. This time the most titled Ukrainian athlete, the third racket of the world, the founder of the Svitolina Foundation of Elina Svitolina. They talked about deported children, charity matches, the influence of sports”, — write on: ua.news
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The sixth edition of the podcast about the behind-the-scenes life of Ukrainian volunteers from Novaya poshta has been released
This time, the most titled Ukrainian athlete, the third racket of the world, the founder of the charity fund Svitolina Foundation, Elina Svitolina, was a guest. They talked about deported children, charity matches, the influence of sports diplomacy and psychological support for young tennis players. And Elina frankly told what she plans to do when she finishes her sports career, and why she likes to work under pressure.
Svitolina founded her own fund 5 years ago. She says she wanted to make tennis accessible to children from low-income families. But the war “reformatted” plans.
“When the war started, I was already pregnant. I was in such a terrible state that I even stopped playing at that moment and started working with a sports psychologist. It was very difficult for me to cope with emotions. And then the idea came that children need it too. Then I went to Ukraine. I looked at Buchu, Irpin and didn’t even think about it. I immediately submitted this idea to our foundation team.”
Thus, the Svitolina Foundation organized an online psychological health program for young athletes, teaching them to master emotions and develop resilience.
Since the first days of the full-scale war, Svitolina has been actively working in the field of sports diplomacy. In the podcast, the tennis player told how she joined the United24 fundraising platform and how our athletes draw the attention of the Western audience to the war.
“In every country where I play tournaments, we always talk to the local people. Many sponsors join us. And it’s cool, because they understand that Ukraine needs help, they delve into these problems.”
Also this year, Elina Svitolina began taking care of the BringkidsbackUA initiative for the return of deported children.
“We have more than 20,000 deported children who need to be returned. I met with some children who have already returned to Ukraine, I communicated with them. This is very close to my heart because I am also a mother and I can’t even imagine what the children who lost their parents who went through the camps go through. When I talked to them, I saw very sad eyes. This is a very difficult process, but it is necessary to draw the world’s attention to it and do everything possible for our children, because this is our future.”
The tennis player dreams of creating a sports center in Ukraine so that the children who left when the war started would have the motivation to return.
“I have a dream to make a big tennis center here in Kyiv. Because I remember myself as a child, when it was difficult for me to find courts and coaches. Therefore, we are now working in this direction, because who but me can make it happen?”
Elina is also the ambassador of the project “Play for Ukraine” from Novaya poshta, where every Ukrainian can share their own story of big or small victories and receive a tennis ball autographed by a tennis player.
You can listen and watch the full talk on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Megogo Podcasts.
The first season of the podcast “Varti” consists of 12 episodes that will be released every Thursday. The next guest will be Vladyslav Malashchenko from Good Bread From Good People.
These people are definitely worth learning about as much as possible.