By Kadia Sow | CEO
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!
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