KEY POINTS
- Soccer is being used to spread GBV awareness among students.
- Coaches are teaching respect, empathy, and teamwork alongside soccer skills.
- The initiative aims to create long-term changes in students’ attitudes toward GBV.
1. Using soccer to engage students on GBV issues
A school in Ghana is using soccer as a tool to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) among students. The initiative, which incorporates soccer drills and matches with discussions on the importance of respecting others, aims to spark conversations about violence prevention and gender equality.
The program’s organizers believe that sports, particularly soccer, can serve as a powerful platform for addressing sensitive issues like GBV. Using interactive activities like sports helps foster open discussions, making it easier for students to engage with complex topics. The school has partnered with local NGOs and sports organizations to ensure the program’s success and longevity.
2. Bringing attention to GBV through soccer drills and games
In each session, students participate in soccer drills that are paired with discussions on GBV. Coaches and mentors use the sport as a way to teach values such as respect, empathy, and teamwork, while also addressing harmful gender stereotypes. The initiative encourages students to challenge these stereotypes, understand the consequences of GBV, and develop healthy attitudes toward relationships.
The school’s soccer-based GBV awareness program has gained recognition for its innovative approach to youth education. It provides a non-confrontational way for students to learn about respect and the importance of healthy relationships, all while enjoying a sport they love.
3. Long-term impact of soccer-based GBV awareness campaigns
This soccer-based campaign has had a noticeable impact on students’ attitudes toward GBV, with many expressing a greater understanding of its consequences. Some students have also become advocates for GBV prevention, taking the messages learned in the program home to their families. The school hopes to expand the initiative, using soccer as a model for other schools in the region.
The goal is to make GBV education a regular part of school activities, creating a ripple effect that influences not just students but also the wider community. By using soccer to spread GBV awareness, the school is helping to shape a new generation of youth who are informed, empathetic, and committed to ending gender-based violence.
