Imagine a child without a father, mother, or close relatives, yet blessed with a natural talent for soccer. One day, fate brings the child under the wing of their coach, who adopts them. From that moment, the coach becomes their entire support system. In an environment where many soccer teams are founded by passionate individuals, lacking formal structures like matrons to protect girls, what happens when a young female player faces sexual abuse? Who would she turn to for help? This is a harsh reality faced by many athletes in women’s soccer today.
Every child is born with a unique talent, and in every talent lies an opportunity. When nurtured in the right environment, a child’s gift can bring joy and success to both their family and the nation.
Women’s soccer player attends GPF Tanzania program to support female athletes.
Today, soccer is more than just entertainment; it is a source of livelihood for individuals, families, and communities. Internationally, women’s teams have often brought more recognition to the country than even the men’s teams. Yet, despite these opportunities, the sector is marred by challenges, including the prevalent issue of sexual harassment of young girls.
Such harassment often happens in secret and takes many forms. For instance, female players are frequently labeled with derogatory terms simply because of their appearance. Economic abuse is also common, where a player lacking transport money is forced to rely on team leaders, who may exploit this need to demand sexual favors. Additionally, some girls are coerced into sexual activities in exchange for spots on the team or opportunities to travel abroad.
These injustices have terrible consequences. The most significant is the suppression of talent—a girl may know that, no matter how hard she trains, she will not be selected for the team because she refuses to compromise her dignity. This not only crushes dreams but also inflicts psychological harm, exposes players to infections, and can result in unwanted pregnancies.
Community comes together to unite against gender-based violence in Tanzanian sports.
Gender-based violence has no place in sports. This is why the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Tanzania, in collaboration with Women Fund Tanzania Trust, launched the Uniting to End Violence Against Women in Football initiative. The project aims to combat gender-based violence in women’s football in Tanzania and to shift the social norms and behaviors that hinder the reporting of violence against women and girls’ incidents.
GPF Tanzania is working closely with soccer stakeholders, including coaches, players, and team owners. In addition to the previous five clubs, this season GPF teamed up with clubs like Ilala Queens and Kinondoni. GPF Tanzania also provided entrepreneurship training to selected girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, equipping them with the skills needed to build a future beyond soccer. Selection is based on specific criteria such as talent outside of sports, business potential, and eagerness to learn.
“I didn’t fully understand gender-based violence issues, even as a team leader,” says Diana Faustine, manager of Ilala Queens. “Despite challenges, girls should not give up on their talents and dreams. If God has given you the gift of playing football, use it.”
Coach Salehe Alawi, chairman of Kinondoni Queens, added, “These programs help girls make informed decisions, as many are unaware of their rights.”
A key part of the initiative is the development of a mobile app, allowing players to report sexual harassment confidentially from any location.
GPF Tanzania is also advocating for reforms in the sports sector’s systems and laws, which are currently unfavorable to female players. Without policies or contracts, female athletes are vulnerable to abuse when they try to assert their rights.
In the early stages of the project, GPF developed safeguarding guidelines that several teams have adopted. These guidelines address gender-based violence, explain players’ legal rights, and outline the steps to be taken in cases of abuse. Coaches and team leaders have also pledged to uphold these policies and ensure a safer environment for female players.
By addressing these issues, GPF Tanzania is working to create a future where young girls can pursue their soccer dreams without fear.
Learn more Tanzania | Global Peace Foundation
