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October 8, 2021
Right to Play, which uses the power of play to ‘protect, educate and empower vulnerable children, helping them overcome the impact of poverty, war and disease’, has announced a programme expansion into Senegal in 2022. In response to an identified need for youth empowerment programmes in the country – especially those targeted towards girls and young women – it is intended to empower girls to become changemakers in their lives and in their communities.
According to the organisation, Senegal ranks as one of the least developed countries globally, where girls experience persistent barriers to education and empowerment, often struggling to reach their full potential. Harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) are still commonplace, and a serious risk to girls’ health and opportunities, with 23% of women and girls aged 15-49 having experienced it.
The Renforcement des Capacités des filles par le Sport et le Jeu (RECAF-Jeu) programme will be Right to Play’s first in the country. Funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada, it will work in multiple regions of Senegal to build the life skills of adolescent girls, address their human rights, such as sexual and gender-based violence, and provide opportunities for girls and young women to participate in sport. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Liverpool Football Club Foundation.
“Girls are crucial advocates for change in their communities. But, too often, their voices aren’t heard, and they’re discouraged from leadership roles,” said Right to Play CEO Kevin Frey. “This generous support from the Government of Canada will allow us to work with a leading local organisation to build on the work that’s already happening through Senegal’s National Strategy for Equity and Gender Equality and empower girls to dismantle barriers to their success and claim their rights and be heard.”
Since 2002, Right to Play has reached over 1.4 million children in seventeen African countries with Canadian Government-supported programmes that protect, empower and educate children through the power of play. Half of the children in its programmes are girls.
The leadership programme will be implemented in partnership with SEED Project, a Senegalese sport for development organisation founded by NBA Africa Vice-President and Right to Play board member, Amadou Gallo Fall. Fall’s organisation provides girls with a supportive environment where they can build life and leadership skills.
“This programme develops young African leaders through education, leadership and women’s empowerment. It allowed me to know myself, helped me to have the skills of confidence and be strong woman. It allowed me to defend fervently young sexual health and gender equality,” said Aita Ndiaye, who joined the SEEDs programme as a youth.
The RECAF-Jeu project will use sport and play as a form of experiential learning to help more than 10,000 Senegalese adolescents develop leadership, communication and self-esteem. The project will also support enhanced agency in girls and positive masculinity in boys and engage with the wider communities to combat harmful traditional practices and negative social norms that impact both girls and boys.
Right to Play will also collaborate on a National Roadmap that will advance gender equality in and through sport.
Right to Play have been past entrants to Beyond Sport Global Award across several of their program countries.
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