JICA awakens the plight of girls refugees through football

Women have in different communities, faced the most of segregations coming into the world of sports especially  physical sports like cycling and football.

In fact, women in some communities and countries of the world, have been denied chance to take part in sports disciplines like football, on a misconception that this is meant for the male gender.

And as communities in all countries of the world prepare to cerebrate international women’s day come this Friday March 8, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Uganda has continued to make way for the plight of young and disadvantaged girls through sports.  

To effect their endeavor, JICA in partnership with Uganda Premier league side Soltilo Bright Stars and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) alongside her Implementing Partners (IPs), held a football clinic for refugees and host communities in Rwamwanja refugee settlement in Kamwenge district on Saturday.

The event had Bright Stars team of coaches take the female players from the different parts of the settlement and neighboring community schools, through a series of ball skills and competition before selecting a team to compete on the day’s game.

While officiating at the event, Inoue Yoichi, the JICA chief representative Uganda office said the agency is committed to supporting sports for refugees and host community.

“This event is held in commemoration of international women day and in recognition of the important roles sports plays, in not only enhancing peaceful co-existence but as well in attracting development, it also contributes to good health, education and empowerment of vulnerable population like women and the youth,” Yoichi said.

Inoue-Yoichi,the JICA chief representative Uganda office, with other officials from-UNHCR, inspect Global Preperatory primary school team before the football events at Rwamwanja primary school grounds

Adding, “The women day cerebration is 8th March and it is therefore a fitting way to usher in the cerebration with this event to commemorate the day. Women are the pillars of society and our support to the girl child is aimed at among others, to empower the women to be able to achieve their full potential,”     

It was also JICA’S goal of enhancing peaceful co-existence between refugees and hosts, providing a platform for advocacy of refugee plight in Uganda, promoting women empowerment and above all, creating a platform for talent identification and development.

75 girl refugees and hosts aged between 16 and 19 from 4 teams Global Preparatory School, Kyempango Community team, King of Kings and Western Giants academy team, took part in the clinic.

The event was crowned by Yoichi handing over sets of sports kits donated by Chifure AS Elfen Saitama a football club playing in the Women Empowerment (WE) League in Japan, and assorted gifts for the teams.