Goals For Girls, Washington DC, USA
From the Global Women's Network
| Goals For Girls, Washington DC, USA | |
|---|---|
| Logo: |  |
| Street address: | 6119 3rd St. NW |
| City: | Washington DC |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: |
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| Location coordinates: | 38° 57' 52" N, 77° 0' 57" WLatitude: 38.96458 Longitude: -77.0158189 |
| Executive Director: | Ian J. Oliver |
| Contact number: | (202) 550-482 |
| Contact email: | info@dcsoccer.com |
| Website: | http://www.goalsforgirls.org |
| Facebook: | http://www.causes.com/causes/282423 |
| Target: | Girls |
| Organization type: | Local NGO (operating at the community level) |
| Sectors: | Empowerment, Sports |
| Year founded/registered: | 2007 |
Summary
Goals for Girls is an international initiative of girls helping girls through the game of soccer.
About
Goals for Girls is an international initiative of girls helping girls through the game of soccer.
Goals for Girls is a program of DC Soccer and is led by international public health, humanitarian, education, and community development experts, as well as US Women’s National Soccer Team members who have experience in successfully implementing effective interventions for girls.
Objective
Goals for Girls connects girls from different countries and backgrounds with their peers around the world in a forum that addresses social and health challenges through cultural exchange and soccer. Since 2007, Goals for Girls has used this unique platform to help disadvantaged girls across the globe by providing access to health and education programs taught through the game of soccer. It gives girls an opportunity to break down cultural and socio-economical barriers to create change through addressing common challenges.
Why Soccer?
In the U.S. soccer is providing healthy, engaging team environments for young girls across the country. Soccer teaches important lessons on and off the field that help young people develop discipline, commitment, healthy behaviors, and peer communication among others. In disadvantaged communities across the globe soccer is more than just a game: it is an important and innovative tool that provides a vital outlet to girls who need creative ways to overcome obstacles.
Research by leading public health and development experts points to high success rates for interventions that use soccer, to engage young people. Soccer allows programs to reach vast numbers of young people in an engaging and effective way. The game sets the stage for effective learning because it breaks down cultural barriers, creates opportunities to teach from the game, and brings communities together around important issues.
Soccer also provides natural role models and educators in the form of coaches, professional players, and peers. Goals for Girls is the connection between soccer’s impact on girls in the U.S. and across the world and it is connecting young people through their love of the game.
Why girls?
Historically there have been many more opportunities for boys and young men to participate in sports programs. In addition, in many parts of the developing world, the role of girls and women in a community is a critical and central one. Goals for Girls helps inspire girls to play the game who otherwise don’t play. Soccer activities provide girls an outlet where they can join their peers in an informal but structured environment where learning is fun and collective.
Developing and enhancing self-esteem in young girls which in turn will help them identify and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, will impact not just their lives but the lives of their families and communities. With respect to HIV/AIDS, young girls remain at the center of the pandemic in terms of transmission, vulnerability, impact, and potential for change.
Nowhere is the epidemic’s feminization more apparent than in sub-Saharan Africa, where almost 61% of adults living with HIV are female and 76% of young people (15-24 years old) infected are women and girls. Goals for Girls and its partners address HIV prevention and awareness in each of their programs.
How does it work?
Following each program visit, all participants are tasked with returning to their respective communities to reach out and assist their peers through collective learning, community outreach activities, and advocacy. They become visible leaders in their communities.
Needs
You can donate online.
