Berlin/Brandenburg: Sports training for refugee girls
Sport is a powerful tool for promoting integration and social participation. A project in Berlin and Brandenburg helps young women and girls to settle in Germany.
“I always had the urge to play sports and live my dreams,” says Shogufa Bayat. “But only here in Germany can I finally do what I want.” The 22-year-old Afghan woman is part of the “Discover Football” program. This Terre des Hommes partner organization trains young refugee women to become soccer coaches and youth leaders. Currently, twelve young women from Berlin and Brandenburg are participating, women who would otherwise have little access to training and sports opportunities. Once they complete the program, they can lead youth and children's groups or work as coaches in facilities or holiday programs.
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Sport promotes social participation
In Afghanistan, this would no longer be possible. “Life is very hard for girls. They have hardly any rights, and they're not even allowed to play sports. Girls are considered too weak to achieve anything.” Shogufa is a passionate climber and was a member of the first all-female climbing group in her hometown. Now she's training with Discover Football. The organization is supported by “a chance to play,” a joint initiative of the Volkswagen Group Works Council and Terre des Hommes . Discover Football advocates for the rights of girls and young women. Football is specifically used as a tool to empower girls and achieve genuine social inclusion.
Shogufa can immediately pass on her newly acquired knowledge: As part of the project, a four-day girls' soccer training course is taking place in Berlin, to which children from refugee shelters are also invited. This allows the course participants to support girls in similar situations as they settle in Germany. Shogufa is very happy to be in Germany. "My sisters are here too," she says. "We can do vocational training. I hope that one day there will be peace in Afghanistan and we can return home. I would like to teach girls there and show them new paths."