Sport as a Lifeline for Ukrainian Children

Pasha leads SportQuest’s work across Ukraine with a clear focus. He uses sport to serve children, connect families, and equip local leaders who continue the work within their own communities.

Pasha watches as kids run onto a worn field, some laughing, some unsure, all ready to play. In a country where daily life shifts with the sound of sirens, the camp creates a place for children and leaders to gather. For a few hours, they focus on something steady. They play, connect with friends, and experience a sense of normalcy.

How It Started

Pasha did not set out to lead this kind of work. As a young athlete, he attended a KidsGames outreach in his community. A coach invested in him, shared the Gospel, and remained consistent in his life. That relationship changed his direction.

“I became a Christian through this project,” Pasha says.

He pursued training in physical education and coaching, then stepped into ministry roles that allowed him to invest in others. In 2017, he joined SportQuest and committed to long-term work in Ukraine.

“SportQuest did not ask me to become something else,” he says. “They strengthened what God already started.”

That calling now plays out in a simple and repeatable way. Each camp begins with children gathering and leaders welcoming them into the day. A story connects sport to a biblical truth, and then the group moves into activity. Kids run drills, compete, and learn how to function as a team.

Local leaders carry the responsibility. Church volunteers, young leaders, and community partners lead each part of the camp. Pasha focuses on equipping those leaders so the work continues long after the camp ends.

On the final day, parents step onto the field and join their children. They play together, meet the leaders, and begin to build trust. What starts on the field begins to extend into the home and the local church.

When Everything Changed

In 2022, Pasha remained in his village as the war moved closer. During that time, a group of missionaries arrived ready to serve. They brought food, spent time with families, and gathered more than 500 people in one place.

That moment stayed with him. He saw how quickly children responded when someone created space for them. He launched a camp next to a damaged school in his village, even without ideal conditions.

From there, the work expanded. Fifty camps reached more than 1,500 children the following year. By 2024, camps had reached 12,467 children across 148 camps in 109 settlements, with 2,614 leaders serving across the work. The reach continued in 2025, as camps reached 13,027 kids. By 2025, leaders had also established 204 sports clubs, creating hundreds of ongoing points of connection within local communities.

Many of these communities lack fields, equipment, and consistent access to organized activity. Pasha and his team adapted by building a mobile model they call “camps on wheels.” Teams bring equipment, structure, and leadership into each location. They set up wherever children gather and create a consistent experience in places that often get overlooked.

“We go to them,” Pasha says. “We do not wait for them to come to us.”

What Happens After

The goal extends beyond the camp itself. Leaders build relationships with families, and parents connect with people they trust. Local churches continue the work by following up, hosting gatherings, and staying present in the community.

“We see families return,” Pasha says. “They come back because they know and trust the coaches and leaders at the camps.”

The camp becomes a starting point for ongoing engagement rather than a one-time event.

Pasha measures success by the leaders who step forward. New volunteers continue to join, even in difficult conditions. Teenagers learn from more experienced leaders and over time begin to take ownership themselves.

Pasha walks alongside them as they grow in leadership, teamwork, communication, and serving others.

The Daily Reality

Each camp requires between $1,000 and $2,000 to operate. Teams navigate staffing challenges, travel limitations, and security concerns. Air raid alerts and drone activity interrupt plans and require constant awareness. Checking for nearby activity mid-meeting or mid-conversation is simply part of daily life now. These realities shape every decision, but they do not stop the work.

What Comes Next

The structure is in place, and leaders continue to step forward. Communities respond, and churches stay engaged. Additional support would expand the reach and strengthen the depth of this work.

More funding allows Pasha to train leaders, launch additional camps, and serve more families in areas that currently remain unreached.

“More support gives us time to invest where it matters most,” Pasha says.

Be Part of It

This work continues because people choose to be part of it.

When you give, you help equip leaders who remain in their communities. You help create spaces where families connect and engage with local churches. You help extend this work to areas that need it now.

You can support this work through a donation to SportQuest at https://www.sportquest.org/donate.