Girls Empowerment Soccer Club

                                         Many Thanks!    

Hi friends and family! Thanks to all of you last year who donated.  I'm back again this year asking for your help.  Because of your generosity last year, we were able to buy goals, soccer balls, cones, shirts, snacks, and art materials for the girls.  It was a wonderful experience!



                                           Introduction

For those of you who don't know, I am a 3rd grade bilingual teacher at a low- income, Title 1 school in the Bay Area. I have observed many girls at my school wanting to play soccer but not having the encouragement nor arena do so. Therefore, I started a Girl's Soccer Club 2 years ago. It is a project near and dear to my heart because it is a game that I love and that I have played since I was a little girl. It has been a powerful vehicle for change and self-empowerment in my own life while growing up and in adulthood.



                           Benefits of Sports for Girls

Research has shown that there are many benefits for girls who play sports including better physical, spiritual, mental, emotional and psychological health. This includes higher self-esteem, body esteem, improved physical fitness; an increased commitment to schoolwork and desire to attend college; lower dropout rates and rates of depression in high school; and leads to more community involvement as adults. Playing a team sport provides girls with a core social network of peers who learn to support one another in a common goal throughout their school years.


                                       About the Club

Currently, there are 30 girls from ranging from grades 2nd through 4th. This project is not only about teaching the girls about a wonderful sport but more importantly, it is about teaching the girls teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills as well as encouraging self-acceptance, self-empowerment, and confidence.


Apart from practicing and playing Soccer, we start and end every club meeting with a "Community Circle" in which we talk about issues related to character development as well as share personal experiences particular to girls and how they can support one
another. 



We also include art activities related to building friendship, teamwork, and self-esteem.




                                Community Involvement

Through our school's connection with California State University East Bay in Hayward, I was able to organize a field trip to the CSUEB Women's Soccer Game last October. It meant the world to my girl's. I believe that we must show our children models of success for their future which can include being University Students and athletes.  


Some of the women from the University were also able to come to our school to work with the girls. 

The words given to the girls by these young women players from CSUEB were powerful.  They said, "Never give up on your dreams!"  "Always believe in yourself!" and "Girls can do anything that boys can do!"


                        How the Money Will Be Used

My goal is to raise money to continue and expand the Girl's Soccer Club at my school. Money would be for buying more art supplies, soccer balls and cones, shin guards, shorts and to have shirts made. It is also for snacks for each meeting.

Many thanks from "Coach Gould" (as the girls call me) and from the soccer girls who are the future leaders of their communities.