Empower girls through football and further in life

At Futebol dá força, we empower football coaches to build inclusive leadership to empower girls for life so that healthy girls can shape their own future far outside the football field. 

Our journey began 12 years ago, sparked by a chance encounter in Zixaxa, near Maputo, Mozambique. A local coach shared his concern that his star player, just 13 years old, had become pregnant—a challenge that not only impacted her life but also the team’s success on the pitch.

For our founder, Cecilia Safaee, then just 19, this conversation brought into focus how deeply social issues affect girls’ opportunities. Together with co-founder Sarita Jacob Simone, this moment inspired the creation of Futebol dá Força, a movement dedicated to breaking down barriers so girls everywhere can thrive.

To-date, we have empowered  over 160,000 girls in 1,000 communities across 30 countries. In Mozambique in particular, our Center of Reference and where most impact we have, our soccer league, the Mutola Cup, provides girls with education and support, and changes behaviors within communities to prevent child marriages, teenage pregnancies, and violence. 

Girls like Célia and Florinda, both 15, have already experienced the transformative impact of our program. Through our workshops, they’ve gained essential health information and wellbeing skills. 

In Mozambique, less than 1% of our players experience teenage pregnancy (by age 15), compared to 14% of girls that do not play football with us  (UNICEF, 2021). Similarly, less than 1% of our girls enter into child marriage, compared to 17% that don’t play with us  (Girls not Brides, 2024) .

As you know, this season, we're working towards an ambitious goal: empowering 35,000 girls! In Mozambique, political and social challenges continue to affect many communities, making it more critical than ever to offer support to young girls. Despite these obstacles, we remain dedicated to doing everything in our power to empower girls and provide them with the tools they need to thrive.

Thanks to your generous support, we've been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young girls. We truly appreciate your contribution—thank you!

Links:

• FDF website
• FDF Instagram
• FDF Linkedin

Twelve years ago, Cecilia Safaee, founder Futebol dá Força, met a soccer coach on a dirt pitch in Zixaxa, outside Maputo, Mozambique. He told her that his best player had become pregnant at 13, resulting in fewer goals and wins for the team. This was the first time 19-year-old Cecilia heard someone discuss significant social challenges with the urgency of winning the next match. The coach needed to fix the issue by that very Saturday! Not by 2030, that Saturday! Cecilia joined forces with co-founder Sarita Jacob Simone, and this encounter marked the start of Futebol dá Força, which harnesses the power and drive of soccer coaches to address the challenges that prevent girls from having equal rights and opportunities.

Just over a decade later, FDF has become a global movement that has empowered over 160,000 girls in 1,000 communities across 30 countries. In Mozambique, where our journey began, the Mutola Cup football league provides girls with education and support, and changes behaviors within communities to prevent child marriages, teenage pregnancies, and violence. Notably, 99% of our girl footballers continue their education to secondary school, compared to 37% who do not play football with us (World Bank, 2022), and less than 1% enter child marriage, versus 17% of non-participants. (Girls Not Brides, 2024)

This life-changing impact is possible thanks to special and generous donors like you, who have supported us throughout this incredible journey! Whatever the size of your contribution, you have positively impacted young girls’ lives. And from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!

As you know, this season, we're aiming to impact 35,000 girls! The funds raised so far are already making a difference, showing their impact in Mozambique.

And what better way to showcase this than through the words of those directly affected? Here is a testimonial from one of our beneficiaries, 16-year old Davida Justino from Inhambane, from this past July.

“I’ve been playing eleven-a-side football since I was 12 for the UDM team, participating in the Mutola Cup championship organised by FDF. I love football because in this program, together with my teammates and coaches, I’ve learned a lot of good things about our lives - our rights and duties, how to avoid premature marriage and teenage pregnancy, the dangers of drug and alcohol use, and also the importance of continuing my education.”

Links:

• FDF website
• FDF Instagram profile
• FDF Linkedin page