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20 years of playing it forward for adolescent health
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We’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Grassroot Soccer in 2022! Each month this year, we’ll look back on a key milestone in GRS history — and where we’ve gone from there.
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In honor of International Women’s Day earlier this month, we're sharing stories of how Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is empowering girls and young women, shifting gender norms, and building more gender-equitable communities.
When young people are influenced by harmful gender norms, it drives unhealthy and risky behaviors and leads to unequal power in relationships. That’s why GRS focuses on engaging adolescent girls and boys alike in health programs that are gender-transformative — transcending traditional gender barriers and redefining the pitch as a place where soccer, gender equality, and health are mutually reinforcing.
SKILLZ Girl, GRS’s single-sex program for adolescent girls and young women, creates a safe space for participants where they can openly discuss their unique health issues and risks; gain critical knowledge on topics like HIV prevention, risk reduction, and family planning; and build self-efficacy. Girl graduates of GRS programs are 100% more likely to credit sport with increased self esteem.
At the same time, male GRS Coaches serve as role models for adolescent boys and young men, challenging toxic notions of masculinity often prevalent in soccer spaces. Male graduates of GRS programs report significant gains in knowledge and healthier attitudes towards reproductive health, gender-equitable beliefs, and gender-based violence. The impact of these changing attitudes has a ripple effect — improving health outcomes and making communities safer and more equitable places for all.
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Where Change Happens for Girls
At last November’s World AIDS Day Gala, GRS Global Board Member and Ambassador Christen Press discussed how GRS programs are empowering young people — adolescent girls in particular — to prioritize and strengthen their mental health.
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Reimagining Gender Equality Through Sport
What is the role of sports in advancing gender justice around the world? And which approaches does the research show to be most effective in driving real change? Tune in tomorrow, April 1, at 1 pm ET for a virtual panel discussion exploring these questions, presented by UCLA Luskin Summit, the Global Lab for Research in Action, and the Wasserman Foundation and featuring GRS Technical Director, Curriculum & Training, Jeff DeCelles. Register here.
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Insights on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
GRS South Africa’s Boitumelo (Tumi) Rakosa recently participated in the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women’s “Learning from Practice” webinar series on strategies for preventing violence against women and girls. Tumi shared how GRS is creating safe spaces for adolescent girls based on learnings from two UNTF-funded evaluations of GRS’s programs for adolescent girls in South Africa. These studies found that girls going through SKILLZ programs have improved self-esteem, decreased acceptance of violence, improved disclosure and reporting of violence, and increased utilization of health services — and are 3x more likely to test for HIV. For more on this topic, check out this recent UN Trust Fund resource with insights on developing effective interventions to end violence against women and girls, featuring GRS South Africa!
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Extra Time: GRS News & Happenings
Applications to run the NYC Marathon with #TeamGRS are now open!
For the 13th consecutive year, GRS is proud to be an Official Charity Partner of the TCS New York City Marathon this November! Here’s your chance to join #TeamGRS for GRS’s 20th anniversary, take on the 26.2 miles, and play it forward to help empower adolescents to overcome their greatest health challenges. Learn more and apply here.
Calling all UK friends and supporters of GRS – The Changemaker Cup is Back!
The Changemaker Cup, GRS’s 7-a-side tournament, returns this year on May 25 at London’s Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, home to Queens Park Rangers F.C.! Want to use your footballing talents to play it forward and support GRS programs? Contact awright@grassrootsoccer.org to learn more about ways to participate in this special day.
GRS Competes in Bloomberg’s March Madness Brackets for a Cause
Thanks to GRS Board Member Todd Sisitsky, who is competing on GRS’s behalf in Bloomberg’s March Madness Brackets for a Cause! For the pool, leaders in business and finance pit their NCAA men’s tournament brackets up against one another, with every competitor donating a pledge to a charity of the victor’s choice. GRS is grateful to be in great company among all organizations competing!
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