Gulafsha Ansari | Defender & Coach from Mumbai’s Because of football Gulafsha’s life has changed. It takes courage to challenge long-standing traditions and beliefs in India, but Gulafsha was determined to open doors for girls who dream of a different life. She now works with around sixty girls in India, teaching football and helping them to grow into strong, independent women who are ready to pursue their dreams. “We want to change perceptions,” says Gulafsha. “Girls should have the same opportunities to play growing up as boys. Football is a different direction, through football you can see the world in another way and make a positive change in your life.” From 170 square meter to an independent Life Gulafsha grew up in Dharavi, Mumbai largest slum. Her family 6 used to live in a 170 square meter feet room and she learned to manage with limited resources. Growing up as a Muslim girl in a conservative family, football was a difficult choice she took. Because the society in Dharavi teaches young girls to follow by the rules, get married early, help with household work and serve others. Like her sisters did. But Gulafsha didn’t see herself in that role. And her […] Read More
Celebrating the Good of THE Game In June/July 2016, 90 streetfootballworld network members from around the world came together to celebrate the power of football4good in Lyon, France. Festival 16 united 70 delegations from 50 countries to give over 400 participants from disadvantaged communities a unique opportunity to learn, to take part in a multicultural experience, and to understand the global dimension of football4good. It was the largest-ever gathering of the streetfootballworld network. This wide representation was crucial for the event’s lofty goals: building a blueprint for the future of both the network and the field of football for good, and establishing opportunities for future collaboration. At the core of discussions was the theme of strengthening cooperation and working together towards a common goal in order to increase the impact of football for good globally. The importance of the festival goes far beyond its impact on the participants who attended the festival. During one of the most important worldwide sports events, the UEFA EURO 2016, public and corporate partners from the football industry and beyond came to witness the impact of football4good and reaffirm their commitment to social responsibility and the field of football4good. Read More
In December 2009, the eyes of the global soccer community were on the opening of the world’s first Football for Hope Centre, in Khayelitsha, South Africa, the culmination of a yearlong collaboration involving the Football for Hope movement, Grassroot Soccer, the Khayelitsha Development Forum, and numerous supporters and funders. The opening signified day one of a lasting partnership through which Grassroot Soccer, the Centre Host, will engage the youth of Khayelitsha and provide them with essential HIV prevention education. The Centre in Khayelitsha is the first of 20 that will be built in disadvantaged communities across Africa as part of Football for Hope’s 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Football for Hope is a movement led by FIFA andthe football-for-development network streetfootballworld. Read More
