Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Children with disabilities - 
Personal developmentContext
The UEFA Foundation for Children’ support will help develop the sporting dimension of the project, which aims to combat the gender stereotype, that women are inferior to men, in Malawi. As a consequence, girls and young women feel vulnerable and are often the target of sexual and gender-based violence.
Project content
The Centre for Alternatives for Victimised Women and Children (CAVWOC) organises sports activities, such as football and karate, to bring vulnerable girls and boys together in a setting of greater equality.
The goal is for the children to learn mutual respect, develop self-esteem and start a process of resilience. Combining sports training with information on sexual and reproductive health rights will help girls and boys protect themselves.
If the girls play football with boys, the masculinity related to the game will disappear. This will give an enormous boost to their self-esteem and will be one step towards breaking the gender stereotype. Sport will help the girls to work in a team and develop their objective-setting skills. Working with coaches, trainers, and teammates to win games and meet objectives is great practice for success later in life. Sport will also make them better able to accept defeat and emerge stronger from it. Being a team player will make it easier for them to work with others and resolve issues, whether on the field or in their personal lives.
CAVWOC will set up 12 girls’ football teams and organise a football tournament, inviting successful national female players to take part. This experience will boost the girls’ feeling of empowerment.
CAVWOC has run a pilot programme to teach the girls karate, and it has increased their self-esteem and confidence and even the boys are more understanding and treat the girls equally. In addition, the karate training helps them to defend themselves.
In addition to the sports activities, boys and girls will take part in the information campaign about sexual and reproductive rights. We aim to reduce the inequalities and power imbalance between boys and girls. We believe that men and boys are not only part of the problem in gender imbalance, but also part of the solution. This is one way to increase solidarity with girls. Male champions can influence their peers about how boys and men can support girls.
Beneficiaries:
- 1,000 vulnerable children aged between 16 and 18 living in rural areas
- More than 76% are girls
- Around 5% are disabled children
- 5% are orphans
- 25% live in difficult social contexts
Objectives
The overall objective is to reduce the number of women and children that encounter rights violations in Malawi. The project provides infrastructure and support to enable communities to acknowledge and value the laws that protect and allow all women and children to live healthy lives and sustain themselves financially.
A society in which women and children feel safe and protected from gender-based abuse and are economically strengthened.
Project activities
- Educate 30 boys and girls on sexual rights and health (SRH) and a gender-transformative approach (GTA).
- Support girls’ football
- Raise awareness of teen pregnancies and gender equality
- Teach girls karate
- Train girls in leadership
- Communication with international female football stars
Expected results
- 15 girls and 15 boys trained in SRH and GTA
- 8,000 youngsters taught awareness of teen pregnancies and gender equality
- 12 girls’ football teams set up
- 30 girls taught karate
- 30 girls trained in leadership skills
- Nationwide campaign on female empowerment with the support of international female football players
Partner
