Location and general information
Categories
Access to Sport - 
Gender Equality - 
Personal development
Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal developmentContext
In rural villages in the Indian states of Karnataka and Rajasthan, girls face significant barriers to education due to entrenched gender norms. Child marriages, low school retention rates and stigma around girls’ participation in sports are common. Communities often lack safe and inclusive spaces where girls can play, learn and develop confidence.
At the same time, boys grow up in the same environment and learn to enforce these gender norms reinforcing inequality. Limited access to structured sport, life skills education and age-appropriate information on sex, gender and rights further restricts children’s holistic development.
Project goals
- Increase access to football and life skills training for girls in underserved communities
- Train young women as community leaders and mentors
- Deliver age-appropriate education on sex and gender
- Promote respectful, inclusive behaviour among boys and shift community attitudes through parental engagement and local advocacy
Project content
- Engage boys as allies and conduct community awareness sessions to challenge stereotypes and promote gender-equitable mindsets
- Promote gender equality and the holistic development of children in underserved rural communities through weekly football and life skills sessions conducted in safe, inclusive environments where girls and boys can participate equally
- Deliver specially designed games and activities to build confidence, teamwork, resilience, leadership and decision-making skills while addressing social issues such as gender norms and encouraging mutual respect
- Provide participants with sports kits and food to support their participation and overall well-being
- Deliver age-appropriate education on sex and gender through six interactive modules, focusing on gender awareness, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and healthy relationships
- Through the Kick Like a Girl leadership programme, train 60 young women aged 18 to 25 as community coaches and mentors to serve as role models and support younger participants
- Facilitate long-term change by engaging with communities, organising home visits, parent meetings and community events to encourage support and help shift mindsets
Partner
