We’re proud to have been invited to discuss corrective rape in South Africa on Al Jazeera Live and The Stream. With comments like, “The way you dress […] causes the rape, those short skirts are not right”, it is clear that we still have a long way to go.
Thanks for inviting us to be a part of this important discussion.
The award winning Girls & Football SA focuses on the development of girls and women through sport, media and education.
In this video, the role of football in creating a safe space for girls and women in South Africa is explored, with a specific focus on the prevalence of corrective rape in the country.
Grace, poise and elegance are just some of the qualities all of the female role models we look up to possess and using passion and influence for the advancement of women is something we aspire to achieve. Mrs. Obama not only embodies these amazing role model qualities but also uses her influential position in The White House to help women around the world. This past June she toured South Africa with her two daughters and her mother, speaking to young women about the role they play in leadership on the African continent.
With a packed schedule we were not able to meet her but her inspiring words gave our girls the idea to present her with a gift, they wrote letters and read messages of appreciation to the first family. We posted these messages on our Youtube channel (check out our videos!) and brought the package of letters and DVD to Mrs. Obama’s team. We were happy to see our girls reach out to a role model they admired for her substance and inspiring attitude.
As a thank you, Michelle Obama wrote us back, sharing with us how grateful she is for the hard work done by youth for development in South Africa. Imagine our surprise to receive a hand delivered letter from the White House!
Founder Jos Dirkx and co-founder Sonia Bianchi are currently on a Girls & Football SA trip speaking with groups across the East Coast of the US. During their stop in Washington DC they took a minute to drop by and see the White House and pose for a picture with the organizations new prized possession!
In response to the letter, it’s a pleasure, Mrs. Obama, and we’re honored to have been in touch!
To thank Mrs. Michelle Obama for coming to South Africa with her daughters Malia and Sasha and her mother, Marian Robinson, the football players at Girls & Football SA in South Africa’s township Kayamandi wrote ‘Thank You’ letters. Mrs. Obama will visit the campus of Cape Town University, Robben Island, and the Cape Town Soccer Stadium.
Thank you for sharing messages with South Africa’s youth on health, education and empowerment.
While the football workshops are being carried out in South Africa, the Girls & Football SA team has had a fabulous trip to North America to promote the documentary and to raise awareness on the state of women’s football in the country. Inspiring guests from the United Nations, She’s the First, Girls Who Rock!, Global Girl Media, and CBS news joined us for an engaging discussion and the launch of the new health text message campaign. The team of Girls & Football SA is excited about all the positive reactions and so grateful for all the support. A huge thank you and word of appreciation goes out to all the volunteers that made the evening a success and to Nations United, who have helped support and promote Girls & Football SA during this trip.
Please email info@girlsandfootball.org to learn about how you can help!
She continues, telling us that most of her friends have given up on learning already to gain some income, in any possible way. However, the few available options to earn money are often provided through illegal means. Her environment isn’t safe, alcohol and drugs are abundant and sexual harassment is common. It’s not easy, she said, when you see your mom struggling every day. It makes you feel frustrated. She’s been sharing her story – one that we may have heard before, but becomes even more real when you find yourself sitting directly across from a very young girl.
Imagine that one of your friends dropped out of school a couple of months ago to date an older man from outside your community , she continued, and she now lives in the centre of town, in a nice apartment with expensive clothes and money to send home every week. Then you get asked by one of his friends, on a date. You are tempted. You have the choice to take this offer and release yourself and your family from all the financial struggles or to stay in school, hoping for something better. What would you do?
Many young girls growing up in South Africa have to deal with daily dilemmas such as the one described above. They feel their options are limited and that their future looks unpromising.The environment in which they grow up discourages their dreams and ambitions, making it difficult to believe in a better life.
But our inspiration to write contribute this subject, Girls & Football SA, doesn’t come from a gloomy perspective. We write this because of the inspiring young people we met, who – despite those circumstances, still manage to follow their dreams. The girl who told us the story above, who choice was to stay in school is still struggling to build a better future she is dreaming about. Girls like her are the amazing people that are the foundation of the future of South Africa. We are grateful to be part, support and learn from these strong people who make the right choices every day.
Girls & Football SA is very excited to be in Beirut, Lebanon for the Beirut Film Festival 2011 taking place between March 2nd – 5th for the screening of “Can I Kick It?” which tells the untold story of women’s football in South Africa. Together with the incredible team of Nations United, an organization consisting of 7 campaigns, 1 film, and an active dialogue all blending the art of film-making and the idea and goal of global unity led by Chaker Khazal, we have an action-packed week ahead of us. Continue reading
