Girls' Capacity Strengthening through Sport and Play

This project uses sport and play to develop life skills such as leadership communication and self-esteem to support the empowerment of girls and young women in situation of vulnerability in two regions of Senegal Ziguinchor and Sedhiou. Project activities include: (1) Establishing and empowering girls’ sports and play groups; (2) Conducting social mobilization campaigns in communities on human rights and gender equality issues; (3) Empowering adolescent girls (and boys as their allies) to be agents of change and advocate with government officials on issues of concern to them; and (4) Training coaches to use play-based approaches to improve life skills and advance gender equality. Girls and adolescent girls aged 10 to 17 including those living with disabilities are the primary stakeholders of the project. Boys engaged as peers and allies also benefit from sports-and play-based training mentorship and opportunities. Families/caregivers communities officials journalists sports coaches and mentors also benefit from this initiative.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) lncreased agency of adolescent girls and young women living in a situation of vulnerability and marginalization to realize their rights within their families and communities; (2) Increased adhesion by family and community members to support gender equality and the realization of adolescent girls’ rights and young women; and (3) Increased accountability of key institutions to respect and protect the rights of adolescent girls and young women.