MEDIA GLOBAL NEWS
Least Developed Countries,Society and Culture | By La Shawn Pagan
Imagine living in a country where girls aren’t allowed to practice martial arts, run track, or play ball because they’re expected to do house work. This is a reality for many young women worldwide. Some seek a way to break from the norm.Those brave enough to break that normed were witnessed by Astrid Aafjes in 2006, when she was invited to participate in the 10k race known as La Course Feminine by Nawal Et-Moutawakel in Morocco.Aafjes, founder and CEO of Women Win, saw for herself women were empowered by practicing a physical activity. Invited to participate in a Casablanca 10k race known as La Course Feminine by Nawal El Moutawakel, the first woman from an Islamic country to win Olympic gold at Los Angeles in 1984, was her way of showing her fellow Muslim women that they, too, can participate in sports.“I saw all these women taking over the streets of Casablanca, to see the self-esteem these girls had and the ability to take up public space – it was so empowering,” Aafjes tells MediaGlobal.While surrounded by mostly Islamic women, Aafjes witnessed their unrestrained excitement toward what they were about to do, run. These women, often forced into polygamous marriages at a young age, were enthusiastically jumping and screaming at their newfound freedom.“I thought, ‘If you look at all the issues these women deal with in society, we need to introduce them to sports where they are able to build life skills, endurance, and confidence.’”After the race, Aafjes decided to take the concept global. In 2007 she created Women Win and began working with girls in the Middle East and Africa to practice sports, while building their self-esteem. Three years later, the program is operational in 19 countries helping an estimated 9,300 girls with support from international conglomerates such as Nike.“[As] they practice leadership, they are able to make better choices,” said Aarfes. “While giving them access to better resources and education.”Women Win is now active in Bolivia, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Colombia. “The programs we run in Colombia are involved in conflict and post-conflict,” said Aafjes. “Women are traumatized, some have been involved in battle. Sports helps them release trauma, helps them make their way back into [society].”Not only focusing on sports and reintegration, Women Win also educates on sexual reproduction. In Latin America, where 76 of every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 are mothers, educating girls about health and pregnancy prevention is crucial. Aafjes also involves young men in the program because “many of the issues girls deal with involve boys, we cannot change the world if we don’t [include] them,” she said.“Sports are an excellent tool to include boys. It’s something they understand,” Aafjes said. She explained that once boys see that girls can play sports, it builds mutual respect. “We want to develop successful tools that help with boys,” said Aafjes. “We’re talking to the Man Up Campaign, they are really actively involved on how to engage men and boys in preventing violence against women.”
