Girls Football 3.0 Officially Launched in Manggarai: Empowering Girls’ Leadership Through Sports

Ruteng, July 16, 2024 – Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), in collaboration with the Government of Manggarai Regency, officially launched the Girls Football 3.0 initiative — a platform designed to foster girls’ leadership in challenging age- and gender-based discrimination. Beyond creating equal access in sports, this project also serves as a learning space to promote gender equality, strengthen girls’ leadership, and encourage collective action to confront discriminatory gender norms, particularly within school environments.

The high rates of violence against women and children, low public awareness of child protection, and the persistent influence of discriminatory gender norms in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have drawn concern from various stakeholders. A lack of information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), combined with inadequate child protection mechanisms, has further exacerbated the challenges faced by girls and young women in the region.

“We believe every girl has the right to grow and thrive in a supportive environment. Through football, we’re not only giving them a platform to shine on the field, but also helping to build their confidence, communication skills, and awareness of their rights. We want to empower girls to challenge gender stereotypes and break down barriers in the world of sports,” said Ida Ngurah, Program Director at Plan Indonesia.

Targeting over 1,000 girls across 19 schools in NTT, Girls Football 3.0 is backed by strong support from local governments, schools, communities, and the Indonesian football association, all working together to create inclusive and equitable spaces for girls.

“We welcome the launch of Girls Football 3.0 in Manggarai. Through this initiative, we aim to show that girls in Manggarai have equal rights and the ability to grow into leaders — including in sports,” said Herybertus G. L. Nabit, S.E., M.A., Regent of Manggarai.

The program will form girls’ football teams for ages 12–15 in participating schools, providing new opportunities for them to train and compete. Beyond increasing participation in sports, Girls Football 3.0 also aims to raise awareness among teachers and parents on issues of gender- and age-based violence, and strengthen the understanding of coaches and football associations about anti-discrimination practices.

In the long term, teachers will be encouraged to become professionally certified football coaches, while girls will be given access to football competitions — opening up potential career pathways in the sports industry.