GOALS FOR

GIRLS
InformationBrochure

OUR MISSION

Our mission at Goals for Girls is to teach young women important life
skills through the game of soccer. Our program focuses on developing
important skills such as leadership, social awareness, and community
altruism.

Goals for Girls connects girls from different countries and

backgrounds with their peers from around the globe. We focus on
addressing social and health challenges through cultural exchange,
service, and soccer events.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe that the game of soccer has the ability to transcend

cultural and socioeconomic boundaries. The game of soccer reinforces
critical leadership values and helps individuals function as a team.
We believe that by teaching girls these values through soccer, we
instill social awareness, leadership, and strength that will be used
throughout a lifetime.

OUR HISTORY

It all started in 2006, when soccer coach and international

development consultant Ian Oliver was approached by his U-16 girls
soccer team about joining him for one of his trips to Africa, to
promote wellness and teach soccer skills. Despite early doubts, the
girls parents gladly cooperated, and with Ians network on board,
things took off rather quickly. He recruited FIFA World Cup legend
Tiffany Roberts for their inaugural excursion in 2007, catching the
eye of the Washington Post for coverage of their trip. We teamed up
with Grassroots Soccer and Ubuntu Education fund to teach the natives
HIV prevention and soccer skills. The trip was so successful that
upon returning to the US, the movement gained traction quickly.
Today, Goals for Girls has a large and active alumni network, dozens
of partners, and growing financial support for this critical cause.

Sport has the power to change the world.

-Nelson Mandela

WHY SOCCER?
Soccer is the most popular
sport in the world, and is a
sport that is not dominated by
one particular country.
According to Fifa approximately
265 million players are
actively involved in soccer all
around the world, which is
about 4 percent of the worlds
population. Soccer (also known
as football in most countries)
has the power to unite the
whole world every four years
with the World Cup. On top of its vast popularity there is also a lot
of benefits, such as promoting a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy
and fighting obesity is hard now days, and soccer is one of the best
ways to stay healthy and lose weight. Staying healthy by playing
other sports can be challenging due to the fact that they might
require extra equipment. However, soccer does not require much
equipment besides a ball and anything that can be used as goals, and

to top it off its a very simple sport to play and easy to

understand. Another huge benefit soccer has to offer is the social
skills that one can develop while playing. Since its a team sport
respectful communication is crucial in order to achieve a common
goal, and that type of communication helps to develop lifelong
friendships across cultural and social boundaries.
Soccer is a sport that requires team leadership, cooperation, and
social skills. Soccer can also be played in any environment and can
be enjoyed by people of all ages. Goals for Girls focuses on
promoting values through soccer due to soccers ability to instill
strong leadership values and transcend age. Soccer also encourages
participants to exercise, socialize, and empower one another.

WHAT WE DO
Goals for Girls is invested in helping both the local and global
communities. Goals for Girls Clubs help raise money and promote
awareness through local activities and events to help improve the
lives of girls all over the world. During international trips, these
girls conduct clinics, tournaments, activities to teach life skills
through soccer. Goals for Girls also partners with organizations that
also use soccer as a means of empowerment for young girls in
unfavorable circumstances. The central goal of this organization is
to connect girls from different cultures and areas of the world
through soccer.

WHO WE HELP
Goals for Girls has expanded its campaign to India, Peru, Tajikistan,
South Africa, and Uganda. Many girls living in these countries have
no access to sports or any other activities. They work exclusively in
the home until they are married and have very few friendships with
other girls.

WHY GIRLS
Girls and women play a central role in developing countries both in
their family and in their community. However, gender discrimination
still exists. Out of the 130 million school youth, 70% are girls.
Nearly half of all of the sexual assaults worldwide are against girls
under the age of 15. Approximately 82 million girls between the ages
of 10 and 17 will end up getting married before theyre 18 years old,
and one quarter to one half of girls will become pregnant before the
age of 18. These numbers are the reason why Goals for Girls strives
to make an impact on these girls lives.

HOW WE HELP
Through Goals for Girls, girls across the world can make social
connections by playing alongside teammates. Girls who would have very
few friends and connections get to build lifelong connections through
soccer with their teammates coaches and volunteers. On top of the

great relationships they get to make, they also gain life skills
education. These girls get to transfer the lessons learned through
soccer to all aspects of their lives.

SUCCESS STORY
In each campaign Goals for
Girls has led, there is an
underlying theme. In 2007,
Goals for Girls led its first
campaign in South Africa.
Goals for Girls partnered with
Ubuntu Education Fund, Hope for
Richmond, and Grassroot Soccer
to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS
through the power of soccer.
The participants explored
differences and similarities
around HIV and gender norms through life skills and HIV prevention
activities during a custom designed life skills camp. The success of
the campaign was that it connected girls from different countries and
backgrounds with their peers from around the globe. By the end of the
2 week campaign, the girls had learned a great deal from each other.
They found out what is truly important though soccer, friendship, and
love.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you are interested in supporting our mission, looking for
volunteer or internship opportunities, or wanting to join our ongoing
efforts, we would love to connect with you.

Contact Information:
Website:
http://www.goalsforgirls.org/

Email:
info@goalsforgirls.org