We are proud to present our new international project – UPLAYS starting from August 29th, which aims to support the integration of Ukrainian youth across Austria, Latvia, and Slovakia through sport, language learning, and employment education. Supported by the European Social Fund Plus, UPLAYS responds directly to the social consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Click here to view the page in Ukrainian.
- When: Every Friday | 17:00–21:00 launching August 29, 2025
- Where: Sportcenter Donaucity, Vienna (we will meet at the reception)
- Who: FREE participation for young Ukrainians up to 30 years old
- Registration: https://forms.gle/BHkyLvSYQbNgeAG66
What is UPLAYS?
Based on the success of a similar project in Latvia, UPLAYS now enters a new phase of European-level implementation, with Austria as one of its key partners. UPLAYS is designed for Ukrainian young people aged up to 30 years old who are currently living in Austria providing them with a year-long programme starting from August 2025!
What You’ll Get
Each session includes three parts (app. 45 min long) — come for all or just the ones you need:
- 🇩🇪 German Language Practice
Build real-life conversation skills and get more comfortable navigating daily life in Austria.
Complementary to formal language courses. - 💼 Employment Workshops
Learn how to write a CV, prepare for interviews, find jobs, and understand Austrian workplace culture. - 🏃♀️ Sports & Activities
Stay active, have fun, and meet new people through inclusive group games and physical activities.
All activities will be led by qualified trainers, instructors, and youth workers who speak Ukrainian and German. Importantly, participants themselves will be involved in shaping the program to ensure it fits their real needs and expectations. We are always happy to hear your suggestions for topics you would like to learn more about, or sports you’d like to try!
What is the upcoming schedule?
| 10.10.2025 | At The Supermarket + Networking Skills + Fitness workout for beginners | Green room |
| 17.10.2025 | Health and the Body + Time Management & Prioritization + Fitness workout for beginners | Blue room |
| 24.10.2025 | Clothing and Seasons + Preparing for Interviews – Basics + Fitness workout for beginners | Green room |
| 31.10.2025 | Numbers, Prices & Time + Practicing Interview Techniques + Fitness workout for beginners | Green room |
| 7.11.2025 | Public Transport + Handling Rejection & Staying Resilient | TBD |
| 14.11.2025 | At the Doctor’s + Management and Prioritization During Job Search | Green room |
| 21.11.2025 | At the Pharmacy + Time Industry Overview – IT & Tech + Fitness workout for beginners | Blue room |
| 28.11.2025 | School and Education + Effective Communication in the workplace + Fitness workout for beginners | Blue room |
| 5.12.2025 | Work and Professions + Problem-solving: Critical Thinking & Conflict Resolution + Fitness workout for beginners | Green room |
| 12.12.2025 | At the Office / Workplace + Industry Overview – Healthcare: Guest lecture on Healthcare Professions + Fitness workout for beginners | Blue room |
| 19.12.2025 | Making a Phone Call + Cultural Differences in The Workplace + Fitness workout for beginners | Green room |
Why Join UPLAYS?
UPLAYS is a free weekly program designed for young Ukrainians (up to 30 years old) living in Austria. Whether you’re just getting started or already settling in, UPLAYS offers a supportive space to improve your German, gain job-related skills, stay physically active, and make new friends. It’s a place to grow, connect, and feel more confident in your life in Austria.
Introducing the UPLAYS Curriculums: Language, Employment & Sport
As part of the UPLAYS programme, we have developed three comprehensive one-year curriculums designed to support young people in their integration, personal growth, and overall well-being. Each curriculum includes 50 carefully structured lessons and can be used not only within UPLAYS, but also adapted for other educational programmes.
The three curriculums cover:
Designed for youth workers, trainers, lecturers, teachers, and other professionals, the curriculums provide ready-to-use lesson plans enriched with non-formal education methods—a key pillar of the entire set. These activities make the learning process more interactive, motivating, and engaging for young participants.
Each curriculum also includes age-appropriate and level-appropriate adaptations. For example, the language curriculum offers adjustments based on learners’ German proficiency, while the employment curriculum is divided into three age groups to ensure that the content and approach always fit the needs and realities of the participants.
How To Register?
Please complete the following registration. You will receive confirmation and more information via email: https://forms.gle/BHkyLvSYQbNgeAG66
How to find us?
Every Friday, we meet at Sportcenter Donaucity, starting at 17:00. You can meet us either at the reception where someone from our team will be waiting with the UPLAYS poster or you can ask at Sekretariat which meeting room are we in (it is either the Blue or Green room), you ask for Verein für aktiv Leben und Bildung.
Since the area of Sportcenter Donaucity is quite big, you can find below the exact directions how to find us:
- If you take the U1, stop at Alte Donau and exit on Arbeiterstrandbadstraße. Then you walk approximately 3 minutes, entering the area of the Sportcenter Donaucity on your left side. Once you walk across the parking lot, you will find the Sekretariat building inside right opposite the Oide Donau restaurant.
- Once you are at Sekretariat, you can either find someone from our team waiting there or ask the Sportcenter Donaucity staff which room are we in (always Blue or Green).
- The rooms are located a few minutes walking from Sekretariat, following the signs on the lamp posts.
Stay Connected
More information about how to join the program or support our work will be available soon. Follow us on Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook, check back here regularly, and stay in touch – because integration can be active, meaningful, and even fun!
