By playing sports, girls can lead healthier and more productive lives. However, very rarely do girls in the developing world do sport and compete in the world’s events. EFG, through Run It Girl, seeks to better understand the barriers to participation in sport and initiate a set of desired activities that recognize the Lao context to help more girls enjoy the many benefits that sport has to offer.
The fact that girls in developing countries face unique hardships is well understood. These girls frequently have less access to education than boys, leading to illiteracy and fewer work opportunities. Adolescent pregnancy is commonplace in the developing world, where the vast majority of teen pregnancies occur and maternal mortality is a leading cause of death for teen women. Three-fourths of global teen HIV cases are among females, and cervical and other cancers are on the rise in developing countries. Abuse is another persistent issue, with one in three females worldwide having been physically or sexually abused.
Harnessing Girl Power!
EFG puts special emphasis on gender in our running programs. We work to ensure that all students reap the same benefits from schooling, including equal opportunities for success and broaden the world views. Through Run It Girl, EFG will intensify these efforts, with a goal to improving the lives of 1000 girls in the first three years of this new program. EFG sees sports as an ideal way to advance this crucial movement. Extracurricular sports are a practical, low-cost, high-impact mechanism for getting more youth, especially girls, into school and keeping them there. Sport also helps them develop social and leadership qualities beyond the classroom, such as taking initiative and responsibility, organizing and managing groups and tasks, decision-making, assertiveness and resilience. Even those who can’t attend school can participate and benefit.
Using the Power of Sport for Development
Run It Girl is an exciting sport for development initiative that will allow girls in Laos learn important life skills in a structured setting. They will find a safe space to stretch their minds, observe mentors and peers in leadership roles and practice being leaders themselves. Instead of teaching top-down leadership in the traditional sense, Run It Girl will help youth strengthen basic competencies that can bring about positive change in their families, communities and nation. They build their self-esteem and self-confidence; discover how to effectively communicate, negotiate and cooperate; learn to resolve conflicts, overcome setbacks, be in charge of their own futures and more. Armed with an education, and with the skills to be community contributors and leaders, there’s growing evidence that girls in particular experience
- Greater respect inside and outside the home
- Less domestic abuse and sexual exploitation
- Better ability to prevent HIV/AIDS and other diseases
- Reduced maternal and child mortality
- Higher economic productivity and opportunities
Active political participation and leadership
Everyone’s a Winner
Through this project EFG will work with girls, including those at risk and those who can be positive peers and role models of those at risk. Boys are typically encouraged to play sports, but many societies still frown upon girls’ participation. EFG will strive to create a nurturing environment so that parents understand the overall benefits of sports. When girls start to be seen and heard in the public arena, often for the first time – speaking up, showing their talents and skills, and demonstrating their leadership potential – the community’s stake deepens in the growth and development of its girls, who in turn begin to thrive. By linking to activities involving men and boys as well, the project will help to shatter gender stereotypes and bridge gender gaps, putting girls and boys on a level playing field. Treating each other with mutual respect and dignity, they will be encouraged to work together to solve their community’s biggest problems. Corporate, private and bilateral donors will make Run It Girl possible, from Nike Inc. to many other supporters. Supporters will believe, as we do, that sport for development is a revolutionary concept in the fight against global poverty.
A Run It Girl club in Vientiane, Lao PDR:
- A safe space to meet and hang out with other girls
- A meeting spot for daily Run It Girl runs
- A place for mentoring and tutoring (math, science, business skills, English, computer, etc.)
Sports League Organizations:
- Multiple boys leagues, both organized and unorganized exist, but very few for girls outside of the Vientiane International School. The Run It Girl club could take the initiative to organize, manage and fund leagues exclusively for girls in selected sports
Mentoring and Tutoring for Girls:
- Math and Science
- English
- Computer
- Business skills
Special Events:
- International Children’s Day
- International Women’s Day
- Special Sporting Days
- Other special days
Contact us for more information at info@efglaos.com