Contribution to international development report: 2018-2019

This project implemented a netball-based education programme for 480 girls aged 10-18 living in the Dedza district in Malawi, who are identified as disenfranchised. Girls will be inspired to reach their full potential and be able to influence their own and their peers’ lives. Boys, families and communities will benefit from mixed-gender community tournaments. The project will build the capacity of United Purpose Malawi in using Sport as a tool for social Change, enabling it to transfer learning in Sport for Change to its partners in Malawi and the wider sector.

High levels of poverty, poor housing conditions and lack of access to services in Likuni and Mtandire, peri-urban settlements of Malawi’s capital city, significantly hamper the healthy development of young people. Gender inequality means girls in particular are at risk of early child marriage and sexual violence. This project will provide safe spaces for 1,170 young people (60% of them girls) aged between seven and 20 years to learn about healthy relationships and behaviours, to gain life skills and to advocate for their rights through the delivery of a sport for development curriculum. They will be better able to access SRH services and communities will be more aware of issues they face.

Rates of teenage pregnancy and early marriage are very high in Malawi and account for a quarter of all school drop-outs amongst girls. This project will use football coaching to provide 1200 teenage mothers and 1200 adolescent girls in Mangochi and Mchinji, the two districts with the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the country, with the family planning knowledge, services and skills to guard against unplanned pregnancy and sexual/reproductive health rights issues. As a result, they will be better able to complete their education, remain healthy and reach their full potential. Adolescent boys and young men in the community will also display more positive attitudes towards women.

The Rwandan Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF) works with Resonate to unlock the leadership skills of low-income young women in Gahanga. Using the stadium as the venue, they deliver a leadership development programme that combines cricket with Resonate’s workshops.

Kids Play Rwanda (KPR) will improve gender equity in rural Rwanda through the delivery of ‘Let’s Play Fair’ (LPF), their sport-based education program to reduce negative gender stereotypes, improve the leadership skills of girls and women, and shift the community toward more gender equitable beliefs and behaviours. 75 females aged 7-19 and 75 males aged 7-19 will benefit from the programme, with 50 of the girls aged 13-19 taking part in their ‘All Girls United’ pilot project. 13 local coaches will be trained and supported to deliver the curriculum. Local communities will be engaged through community days.

Although attitudes have shifted greatly since the 1994 genocide, the average adolescent girl in Rwanda faces discrimination and disempowerment – can lead to physical and sexual based violence. Sport used as a hook to engage with adolescent girls and boys, alongside a broader programme to educate them on harmful results of gender stereotyping, SGBV, and negative behaviours/socio-cultural practices on adolescent girls’ lives. Added to which girls (and some boys too) will be trained as sports leaders and youth advocates to empower them to speak out on the harmful social practices, and to promote a positive change in attitudes amongst their peers.

Shooting Touch are proposing to deliver basketball health sessions that incorporate an employability module to drive gender equity, reduce stigmas, and increase employment. Existing basketball for health work will be expanded to include modalities specifically for women aimed at driving economic empowerment through employment and self-employment in their communities.

Komera will work in Kayonza District in the Eastern province of rural Rwanda addressing the most pressing issues facing adolescent girls. They will use a football-based curriculum to challenge gender norms in primary schools, and l use community runs to engage and bring local people together to challenge the gender stereotypes that exist around females engaging in sport; alongside messaging around gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health. They will provide direct support to the most vulnerable and marginalised teen mothers through a community based mentorship program.

To increase social inclusion of young women who have dropped out of school, and ensure healthy relationships are understood and promoted in Kalingalinga slum, Lusaka. Via Karate, 200 young people (160 girls and 40 boys aged 15-19) will have improved skills to prepare them for economic opportunities, and contribute to and practice respectful relationships.

Working in three districts of Zambia, this project will challenge the existing social norms and gender inequality that perpetuates Violence Against Women and Girls. It will support 3,000 of the most vulnerable girls and young women, at risk or survivors of violence, to realise their right to a violence-free life, and opportunities for participation and leadership in schools and communities. Football will be used as an integral part of the programme, to enhance life skills and creatively engage with girls.

Playing It Forward seeks to transform the lives of adolescent girls (AG) and young women (YW) in Zambia, through sport and life-skills training. Its three-year plan is to provide economic empowerment to a group of 150 young women and girls who have completed previous training, as well as bringing in a further 1,200 girls as new joiners for the Goal programme. To begin, a local market analysis of openings for girls in the labour market and businesses will inform and lead to group teaching, individual mentoring and support in finding work and internships in sports or other sectors. Some girls will also be helped to set up their own small businesses with start-up grants and seed funding.