CSR in Football celebrates International Women’s Day

CSR in Football celebrates International Women’s Day

“Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world.”

The 8th of March is known as the International Women’s Day. A day to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

It is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:

• By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes.
• By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
• End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
• Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

How does Sport address the key challenges

In recent years, sport and football have proven to be a powerful tool for addressing diverse social challenges. Many European football clubs and their community arms are committed to addressing the challenges of today’s world. One of the topics which is being addressed by many of EFDN’s members, through innovative and engaging community programmes is ‘Women Empowerment’. We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce a couple of these programmes today, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Mifalot Education and Society Enterprises

Mifalot Education and Society Enterprises (“Mifalot”) is the largest and most diverse sport for development and peace organisation operating in the Middle East. Mifalot is actively engaged in delivering women empowerment programmes in Israel and aborad. Next to delivering programmes to tackle women under representation in Sport, Mifalot delivers employment programmes in the Israeli Arab population. Additionally, Mifalot has created the ‘Beyond the Net’ programme. Catch-ball has recently caught on and therefore forms a great means for attracting girls into playing sports. The ‘Beyond the net’ programme is specifically attuned to the “world of girls”. Through the use of catch-ball, the programme aims to promote girls’ self-image and understanding their essential role in a morally just society. Catch-ball is based on volleyball, but is easier from a technical point-of-view and requires little physical strength to start off with: meaning that whoever wants to play – can.

EFDN is very pleased to welcome Lior Davidi, International Development Manager of Mifalot at the 10th EFDN Conference in Paris on 21st and 22nd of March. At the conference, Lior will provide detailed information on the topic by presenting research data and case studies.

Chelsea Foundation

Chelsea Foundation delivers a comprehensive programme for female football. It is a vital component of the Foundation’s vision. From grass-roots level to the high performance of the FA Women’s Super League, the Foundation is creating new and exciting opportunities for girls and women to get involved with the game.

S.B.V. Excelsior

The Dutch football club Excelsior has developed the programme ‘Talent is Topsport’ to support women in finding their way back into employment. Talent is Topsport is a programme for women, led by women, who would like to achieve the next goal in the field of employment, training or personal development. Talent is Topsport offers the opportunity to attend lectures workshops and personal training, especially for women who are finding themselves far-away from the labour market.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

We are proud join activists around the world, UN women and many EFDN members with outstanding programmes to seize the moment and celebrate women’s lives everywhere.