Bridges of Hope though Soccer

More about Bridges of Hope though Soccer

The social issue that MSF seeks to address through the Bridges of Hope project is the social exclusion of girls and women in the Copperbelt. Women and girls in this region of Zambia face huge challenges, including high levels of: gender inequality due to traditional cultural practices; school drop-out, poverty, and HIV and AIDS. Growth of the mining sector has triggered an influx of commercial sex workers who are at even greater risk of contracting HIV.

Despite their vulnerability, however, women are often not provided with adequate information and resources to ensure their health and economic well-being. Indeed, while the “sport and development” sector has grown rapidly in the past few years, girls – and especially women – have not been adequately included in programming that has proven to be effective for other segments of the population. MSF’s response to these issues is to specifically focus its sport and development project on girls and women in the region.

Through a combination of organized soccer activities, free access to an equipment library, and educational/vocational programming MSF provides girls and women with valuable health education, leadership development opportunities, and simple access to the game. MSF’s unique program makes participation affordable, meaningful and fun.