"I know what it means to feel alone": Viktor Tsygankov's most important goal

GironaViktor Tsygankov has become a key player for Míchel: he shares the honor of being the team's top scorer, has been instrumental in the last two victories, and is involved in more than one in three of Girona's goals. Girona hosts Atlético de Madrid this Sunday (2 p.m., Movistar LaLiga). But his social conscience extends beyond the pitch. The Ukrainian striker, in collaboration with the Girona Este Foundation and the Bofill Foundation, is an ambassador for the Mentora program, which connects teenagers with adult volunteers who support them in their transition from secondary school to post-secondary studies. The goal is to prevent early school leaving and offer at-risk students trusted role models to help them make decisions and build a future of continued education.

"I know what it means to feel alone in difficult times, and I believe it's essential that young people in Girona have someone by their side who listens to them, believes in them, and encourages them to continue studying," explains the footballer, eager to get involved in the city and the country. "He had to leave his own country because of a complicated situation, in the middle of a war," says Mar Avendaño of the Bofill Foundation, who continues: "He knows what it's like to suffer and is aware that the life of an elite football player is full of privileges, while there is a very large number of people who don't have the means to give, the support networks, or sufficient resources. He was looking to join a social project with a local focus, and because of the values we share, we connected very easily." This is the third edition of the Mentora program, which reaches more than 40 Catalan municipalities. To date, more than 350 teenagers have been supported through socio-educational mentoring. Mentoring relationships are established during the school year with weekly 90-minute meetings and include the support and guidance of a technical advisor. "Currently, we have five pairs in Girona. Four have already started, and one will begin soon. As for the young people, we are still trying to reconnect with five who had previously expressed interest," says the coordinator of the Mentoring Point at the Girona East Foundation. "We are grateful to the volunteers because new ones with very interesting profiles join us almost every week," they add.

Other social implications

Avendaño says that "sometimes it's hard to accept that we are vulnerable, and the idea of asking for help can be seen as a weakness." The data provided by the foundation is revealing: in Catalonia Every year, thousands of young people drop out of school without completing a vocational qualification or high school diploma, one of the highest rates in Europe and a reality that limits their future opportunities. The foundation emphasizes: "Preventing school dropout means preventing the risk of social exclusion, unemployment, and job insecurity. Mentoring has proven to be an effective tool for reversing this situation: it strengthens the educational bond, increases expectations and motivation, and improves emotional well-being." With the motto "We're still studying here," Mentora aims to highlight that no teenager should face the challenge of continuing their education alone and that everyone can be part of the solution: as a volunteer, as an institution that promotes the program, or as a young person who joins. "I'm very proud to do my part with Mentora," says Tsygankov, much more than just a footballer to the city of Girona. However, this isn't the first social initiative the Ukrainian has been involved in since arriving in Girona. In 2023, he participated in the solidarity campaign that Girona and the then main sponsor, Gosbi, a brand of food and care for pets, carried out from the beginning of the war conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where all possible aid was sent.