Soccer for Equality: A Youth Football Tournament for Gender Equality
07 July 2025
Bandung, July 6, 2025 – Football is more than just a game—it’s a movement for social change. With this spirit, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) and SalingJaga by Kitabisa returned with Soccer for Equality, a mini soccer tournament held in Bandung from July 5–6, 2025. The event supports Girls Football, a program empowering girls in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to access quality education and equal opportunities.
NTT continues to face serious challenges in terms of access to and quality of education, especially for girls. According to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2023, the average length of schooling in NTT is just 8.15 years—lower than the national average of 9.08 years. High rates of child marriage and persistent gender-based discrimination further limit the futures of girls in the region.
“Football is an inclusive space. On the field, everyone has the same chance to show what they’re capable of. That’s the spirit we want to bring through Soccer for Equality—that girls have the right to play, to learn, and to dream,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.
Dini emphasized that sports can serve as a powerful entry point for raising awareness about gender equality and gaining greater public support for girls’ education, especially in underserved areas like NTT.
The event was also joined by professional footballer and Persib Bandung captain Marc Klok, who expressed his hopes for a future where every child in Indonesia can dream big—regardless of gender.
“I truly believe football is the right platform to introduce gender equality. By joining this tournament, we’re not just playing—we’re supporting girls’ education and gender equality in NTT,” Marc said.
The Soccer for Equality tournament featured two categories: Men’s Junior and Women’s Junior, with over 28 teams from various youth communities participating. All the players were children, making this tournament unique: children playing for the future of other children in NTT.
In this spirit of solidarity, SalingJaga provided protection for all players—ensuring their safety during the matches and supporting their potential as future athletes.
Marsudi Wijaya, VP of Crowdfunding at Kitabisa and representative of SalingJaga and Beyond The Game, explained that SalingJaga supports the event because of its strong alignment with their values. The young participants aren’t just competing—they’re contributing to a cause that helps girls and promotes gender equality in NTT.
As a form of support, SalingJaga provided Personal Accident Insurance coverage for all participating teams, protecting them against accidental injuries, hospitalization, or even death during the event.
“At SalingJaga, we believe that big change starts with collective action. Through the spirit of football, we want to invite everyone to take part in the fight for equality,” Marsudi added.
Symbolic Donation for Girls’ Education and Gender Equality
During the event, Marsudi also symbolically handed over a donation of IDR 50 million on behalf of Kitabisa donors—#OrangBaik—channeled through Plan Indonesia. The funds will be used to support education and gender equality initiatives for children in NTT.
“This is about shared hope—for children who want to stay in school and for girls who deserve equal opportunities. We hope this donation brings real benefit,” said Marsudi.
The young players weren’t just showing their skills on the field—they were also fundraising. Each team created their own fundraising page to collect donations for girls’ education and to support anti-gender-based violence campaigns.
The public can also contribute by donating through kitabisa.com/girlsfund. The Girls Football program doesn’t only teach football skills—it also equips girls in NTT with leadership, confidence, social awareness, and future career readiness.
