Gender inequality is rampant in East Africa and young women are disproportionately affected by the northern Ugandan civil war. Due to the more than twenty-three year civil war, many women and girls have been abducted from their homes and forced to serve as sex slaves to members of the Lords Resistance Army. Presently, there is little social and recreational activity to support the young women traumatized by war. As a result, these girls are deprived of the most important years of their life – their youth. Meet today’s charity spotlight Girls Kick It! the organization provides healthy and economically sustainable opportunities for young girls and women living in internally displaced persons camps. Girls Kick It tells BCG, they believe women must be intimately involved in addressing key issues in northern Uganda such as: HIV/AIDS, health and nutrition, raising children and peace-building. Girls Kick It puts programming first and utilizes the power of sport to compliment ongoing efforts to train, educate, empower and unite the people of Uganda. Since 2006, Girls Kick It has positively impacted the lives of more than 300 girls, the group has provided participants with athletic games, team-building and leadership building activities and weekly soccer practice.
And it is working, the girls have demonstrated new-found confidence, teamwork and the belief that they have control of their futures. In fact, the men and boys in the communities have taken over childcare during Girls Kick It tournaments. Moreover, the program is building unity, the boys and men have mobilized the local community to attend these tournaments and practices, we love it!
Girls Kick It! believe empowerment of women is essential for rebuilding communities, to learn more about this phenomenal organization visit www.girlskickit.org and like them on Facebook!
