SPORTS WORLD COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY
March 8, 2019
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women - while calling for collective action to accelerate gender equality. The first IWD occurred in 1911, supported by over one million people. Today, we recognize the increasing importance and power of sport to empower, educate and uplift women everywhere.
Here are some highlights of how sports are empowering, educating, and uplifting women across the world:
U.S. Women’s National Team Honors Inspirational Women with Jerseys
In celebration of the SheBelieves spirit, the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) honored powerful, influential, iconic and inspirational women during the SheBelieves Cup match this week.
Each member of the U.S. WNT selected the name of a woman who has inspired them to wear that name on the back of their jersey. The choices ranged from activists to Nobel Prize winners, to artists, athletes and trailblazers, from historic to contemporary, and features women who hail from diverse backgrounds and champion a variety of causes.
Read more about the She Believes Cup here.
How Skateistan is Empowering Women to Skate and Run Marathons in Kabul
Skateistan began as a grassroots project in the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan, providing girls with educational opportunities and safe spaces for expression through skateboarding. They were the 2013 Sport for Education winner at the Beyond Sport Global Awards. Skateistan now works with over 5,000 youth each year across five locations in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa.
Their program helps women all across Afghanistan gain access to safe spaces and education through sports programming. In 2015, a young woman named Zainab became the first Afghan woman to run a marathon in the country with the help of Skateistan.
Learn more about the project, and Zainab’s incredible journey here.
Arsenal and Save the Children Coaching Program in Jordan Focuses on Women
A new coaching project from Arsenal and Save the Children aims to reach 4,500 girls over three years to improve the mental wellbeing of girls affected by conflict and violence. The programme consists of seven coaching modules which will run over 20 week cycles.
“I love knowing that I am part of changing these girls’ lives," said Muna, a mother of six who fled Syria in 2013 because of the war.
Muna went from being self-sufficient in Syria to depending on humanitarian aid in the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. She is now one of 12 coaches in the camp who has been trained by Arsenal and Save the Children.
Read more about the partnership here.
Beyond Sport is committed to empowering, educating, protecting and uplifting women across the world through sport. That’s why we have aligned our work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on Goal #5, Gender Equality. Learn more about our commitment to the SDGs here.