Real Oviedo has made itself available to Ukraine, making arrangements with the Asturian government and the Oviedo City Council for the club to host refugees from the Eastern European nation. Having publicly announced our willingness to host refugees in our FUNDOMA residence, the next part of the story began, with three families moving into their new home in Oviedo.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who spent time on loan with our club, got in touch with us to express his interest in the initiative. The shot stopper is fully involved in the task of helping his compatriots. He put an operation in process which saw a total of eight people, four adults and four children, cross Europe and arrive at their new homes in Oviedo in barely a week. We wanted to offer them a nice home in our FUNDOMA residence. The children will play football and live together with young people of their own age, spending their time doing activities which keep them entertained and provide them with motivation at this difficult time. The club has also taken care of their families, offering them homes in apartments rented for the purpose by Los Azules. The boys are here with their three mothers, a sister, and a grandmother, all of whom have also been provided with housing.
The Real Oviedo first-team squad is also fully involved in the efforts. The first-team players and coaching staff helped to provide them with necessary items to kit out their new home with furniture and supplies. They have since continued collecting items to ensure that the families feel at home, even when far from their own.
The first youngster arrived in Oviedo on Saturday 12th March, together with his mother and grandmother. He is a football-loving 14 year-old goalkeeper. He was previously with FC Metalist Kharkiv, beginning his career with the same goalkeeping coach as Real Madrid keeper Lunin, and has now been gifted goalkeeping gloves by the first team. The family made a ten-day car journey across the continent to reach Asturias.
The other two families made it to Oviedo on Sunday. The first consists of a young boy and his mother, who is currently still attempting to save two of her daughters who remain in Ukraine. They are currently trying to leave the country, to join a convoy which would allow them to begin their journey to Spain. They were accompanied by another family, with a mother, her son and young daughter. These two families were brought to Oviedo by the father of Andriy Lunin, who immediately travelled back to Madrid to continue helping refugees.
All of the families are currently settled between a rented flat and FUNDOMA. The club is looking for another flat to give them more space, and is in contact with the authorities to help them carry out all of the bureaucratic steps necessary for their asylum.
All help is welcome, and the following email address has been made available for the cause: genuine@realoviedo.es[mailto:areasocial@realoviedo.es]
Right now the families need food (non-perishable) and clothes in good condition:
Women's clothing (sizes S and M)Women's footwear (European sizes 26, 35, 38 and 39).Boys' clothing - 8 and 11 yearsBoys' footwear (European size 41)Girls' clothing - 4 years
The collection point is the Real Oviedo FUNDOMA residence (C. Ernesto Winter Blanco, 2, 33012 Oviedo, Asturias).
