Share:
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the Network in Action stories that resonated most with our community. Encompassing programs and initiatives championing mental health, gender equality, refugee inclusion, sustainable innovation, youth sports access and more, these top 10 stories show how sport continues to drive meaningful, positive change around the world. Proud to be part of the #SameTeam!
Meet Ignite365 Award Recipient Grass Skirt Project
As part of our series highlighting Ignite365 Award recipients, we featured the Grass Skirt Project (GSP), which tackles gender equality and violence against women and girls in Papua New Guinea. It pairs sport and gender justice, addressing the lack of sports and fitness infrastructures in the country by integrating health education, leadership training and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention into its work. The non-profit’s mission is to empower one million leaders by 2050 through sports.
We spoke to Managing Director and Founder, Tahina Booth about GSP’s founding and its Ignite365-winning ‘Gymbox’ initiative, which transforms 20-foot shipping containers into mobile fitness spaces. These facilities provide health and wellness services to underserved communities, with a particular focus on girls and women to address GBV and equality.
Read the story here.
Beyond Sport Strengthening Capacity & Accelerating Impact
In July, we highlighted how we’ve connected our network this year. Recognizing that many organizations in the sport for social change space are under-resourced, we prioritize building a strong, sustainable sector through our investments. An essential part of our programs is centered on providing capacity-building opportunities through skills-based training, knowledge-building resources and interactive platforms for knowledge sharing and connection. We also create opportunities for organizations to showcase their work, fostering collaboration and amplifying our sector’s impact.
We shared some of the spaces we created with partners to connect our network and share knowledge. As well as examples of partnering with experts in the space to maximize reach and impact. This includes our Black History Month Beyond Sport Development Series, our Sport Together Fund workshop on gender and DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion), the DICKs Sporting Goods Foundation’s ‘Roaring Voices: Empowering Youth in Sports’ workshop, NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone (HIFE) learning series, as well as our Rexona Breaking Limits Program and Head In The Game Coaches Training.
Read the story here.
Khalida Popal Releases Memoir on Sisterhood & Fighting for Women’s Rights
In recognition of June’s World Refugee Day, we were excited to share Khalida Popal’s memoir, My Beautiful Sisters: A Story of Courage, Hope and the Afghan Women’s Football Team. Popal is the founder of the Girl Power Organisation – a Sport Together Fund Grantee Partner. The gripping memoir details a story of survival, sisterhood with the Afghan women’s national team and the fight for feminism in the age of the Taliban.
Popal founded Girl Power in 2014 based on her experiences in refugee centers. She realized that sports activities could instill new energy and life in refugee women, providing networking opportunities, a sense of belonging and a diversion from their challenging situations. Her non-profit uses sport and education programs to empower and unify women and girls. We were pleased to share an excerpt from Popal’s “riveting, heart-wrenching and incredibly important” story.
Read the story here.
Meet Ignite365 Award Recipient Fenikks
To celebrate the announcement of the five inaugural Ignite365 Awards recipients in August, we highlighted the organizations who received an initial grant of $10,000 to support their award-winning projects. The award was part of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, Beyond Sport and Women Win.
We highlighted one of the recipients, Argentina-based Fenikks which is transforming plastic waste into shin guards for football players in 56 disadvantaged neighborhoods across seven regions of the country. The sporting goods manufacturer also focuses on local youth. For every pair of shin guards it sells, another is donated to a football club in the identified neighborhoods. So far, it has donated 3,000 pairs of shin guards and has plans to start creating football boots from plastic waste. We spoke to Founder and CEO, Tomás Machuca on Fenikks’ inception, the importance of sustainability and future plans for the organization.
Read the story here.
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Breaking Systemic Barriers
In honor of February’s Black History Month, we highlighted organizations within our network that serve Black and Brown youth. We spoke to Head In The Game Grantee Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s (LADF) CEO Nichol Whiteman on the charity’s commitment to building a legacy of community empowerment in Southern California, its flagship Dodgers Dreamteam program, addressing social injustice and inspiring the next generation of youth.
Committed to improving education, health care, housing security and social justice for all Angelenos, LADF leverages the power of baseball and softball to step up to the plate for Los Angeles youth. “Los Angeles is often synonymous with palm trees and bright lights,” says Whiteman. “But, while we cherish this great city, LADF acknowledges the troubling statistics that place youth at risk.”
Read the story here.
Argentine Club Empowers Girls to ‘Take Up Space’ On & Off the Pitch
To commemorate March’s International Women’s Day, we spotlighted organizations and individuals within our network that are empowering women and girls through sport. We highlighted Rexona Breaking Limits Program Grantee, La Nuestra Fútbol Femenista, a football club in Argentina that have been affirming the rights of Buenos Aires’ women, girls and LGBTQ+ individuals. From the heart of Villa 31 barrio, the club empowers its players to take up space: on the football pitch and in their community. With around 200 participants, La Nuestra provides more than just a place to play; it offers a home where members find belonging, support and opportunity.
We spoke to club coach Belen Bramanti about the club’s unique leadership team where over three-quarters of the coaches have experienced gender discrimination and tough social circumstances and therefore understand the challenges first-hand for its participants. We also spoke to Luciana Martiarena aged 20, who has been a player at the club since she was 9. She shared her experience being part of La Nuestra and how it has impacted her early life.
Read the story here.
I Challenge Myself Nourishes NYC Students’ Bodies & Minds
In honor of July’s National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (NMMHAM) in the US, we highlighted I Challenge Myself (ICM) – a Head In The Game (HITG) Grantee. The New York-based non-profit provides opportunities for public school students – 99% coming from Black, Brown or other backgrounds considered to be minorities – to strengthen their bodies, minds and spirits through school-based cycling and fitness programs.
We spoke to Executive Director Quentin Ball, who shared the top challenges facing NYC public school students and ICM’s sport-based youth development programs focused on civic and community engagement, physical and mental endurance and personal development. She also shared how valuable it is to be part of the HITG community and how the program helps strengthen ICM’s ability to support youth mental wellbeing.
Read the story here.
Pitch 2 Progress Shapes Positive & Healthy Futures for Birmingham Youth
For our International Youth Day series, we also highlighted Pitch 2 Progress (P2P) CIC – an NFL Foundation UK Grantee Partner – which supports the vocational and developmental progression of young people on and off the pitch in Birmingham, UK. Founded in 2020, P2P is on a mission to help young people aged 8-25 – mainly those from areas of high deprivation – improve their health and wellbeing. Recognizing the need for a positive and inclusive environment for youth, it uses recreational sports and activities as a gateway to build relationships and understand individual needs.
We spoke to Operations Manager Syed Ali about the organization’s work to help young people move towards positive and healthy futures through sport and educational workshops. He shared the top challenges facing Birmingham youth and explains that by targeting young people in areas of high deprivation, P2P aims to break cycles of poverty and inequality, fostering social mobility and providing pathways for personal and professional development.
Read the story here.
The Good News for Women & Girls in Sport
We wrapped up March’s Women’s History Month, by sharing a roundup of inspiring news for women’s sport and personal perspectives from girls participating in sport for social change programs run by some of our partners. From the professional experience to the grassroots, we celebrated standout sporting experiences for women and girls globally.
We highlighted advancements, such as women’s sport potentially breaking the £1 billion revenue mark this year and the growing media coverage that is inspiring more girls to engage with and stay in sport. We also shared perspectives of four girls involved in the Rexona Breaking Limits Program, Under Armour retail donation campaign and Head In The Game, reflecting on their most empowering or joyful sporting moments.
Read the story here.
GOALS Haiti Uplifts Youth in Times of Crisis
We recognized August’s International Youth Day by highlighting sport for development organizations within our network that are serving youth people through sport. We highlighted GOALS Haiti – a Sport Together Fund Grantee Partner – which provides a lifeline to young Haitians through soccer and education programs. GOALS (Global Outreach and Love of Soccer) was founded following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the country in 2010. The nonprofit uses the sport to develop young people’s leadership skills, engaging them in community service and educational activities to improve their quality of life and provide opportunities to have fun.
We spoke to Executive Director Kathy McAllister and Programs Director Kenneth Dossous about how the organization is supporting young people through the ongoing political and economic instability, violence and the aftermath of multiple earthquakes and hurricanes. They shared how GOALS provides kids the opportunity to learn and play soccer, support their development and importantly a safe space for them to forget their daily troubles
Read the story here.
Keep up to date with the latest in sport for social change news and global impact by signing up for our bulletin here.
Share:
