Namibian football is giving girls a lifeline through Galz & Goals

Sport has the power to change the world and the Namibian Football Association (NFA) is keeping that notion alive through its groundbreaking Gals & Goals initiative.

The NFA Gals & Goals Development Programme aims to increase the empowerment of adolescent girls to make healthy and constructive life choices on and off the field.

Through the creation of leagues in all regions of Namibia for different age groups between 12 and 19 years and also the integration of HIV & AIDS information sessions, life skills and healthy lifestyle components into the programming network, Galz & Goals has created a unique platform through which adolescent girls can gain skills and knowledge through active participation.

Currently covering most of Namibia’s top metropolis, there are ongoing plans to expand the initiative to all 14 provinces of the sub-Saharan nation.

It recently sailed into the coastal town of Luderitz were councillor Jan Scholtz welcomed the programme stating that participating in sports can make young girls healthier, adjust their level of social skills and sustain a positive mental mindset.

“Youth development is often the end result of behaviour change, change of attitude and thinking. In most government designed policies young girls are rarely addressed as a special target group. Participation in sport has a big influence in many areas of one’s life. Sport also mitigates for various issues of social difficulties like substance abuse and crime in communities,” said Scholtz.

He also divulged his desire to see young girls from Keetmanshoop and Luderitz uplifting their personal lives and communities by using the skills they learn from experts throughout the duration of Gals & Goals.

The Gals & Goals programme gets most of its funding through partners such as UNICEF and SCORE Namibia.

Popular posts from this blog

Miss South Africa Mia Le Roux reveals she was a tomboy growing up and aspired to be Spiderman

Image
Mia Le Roux, the first hearing-impaired woman to win the Miss South Africa pageant, is a testament to the power of embracing individuality and defying societal expectations. While she's now known for her grace on the runway and her dazzling smile, Le Roux's journey to the crown wasn't always paved with glitter and glam. Growing up, she was a self-proclaimed tomboy, embracing a playful and adventurous spirit. "When I was in primary school, I was such a tomboy," she shared with News24. "I wanted to be Spiderman. I wore my brother's Spiderman suit all the time." While her early years were marked by a love for superhero adventures, Le Roux's journey took a transformative turn as she grew older.  She started experimenting with her mother's clothes, venturing into the world of dresses and stilettos.  However, this foray into femininity didn't come without its challenges. As a hearing-impaired individual navigating a world designed for those who...
Read more

Q & A - Natalia Molebatsi (Award winning poet)

Image
Farai Diza (FD): What inspires your poetry? Natalia Molebatsi (NM): I am inspired by words and how they are able to influence conversations. Through poetry we can also navigate our emotions and experiences, including the joys and trauma that our bodies carry. I’m inspired everyday to use my poetry to speak truth to the ills of the erasure of black women, racism, misogyny and capitalism and how these phenomena impact the lives of our people. FD: Having edited a number of poetry anthologies, do you think African poetry is still relevant? NM: I have actually edited one poetry anthology called We Are and working on the next one. However, I have published two collections of my own poetry. Our stories, visions, and experiences are valid and important. We need to hear them and affirm them, locally and globally. Our poetry is relevant now than ever before and it will never cease to be exciting because we live against the odds and continue to push through the violence of colo...
Read more

Fitness Goals: Olympic bound hockey star Onthatile Zulu shares tips on how to train like an Olympian

Image
The life of an athlete epitomizes a paradox: years of relentless toil for a career that often culminates in early retirement due to age or physical limitations.  Similarly, fitness enthusiasts embarking on their journeys strive tirelessly for aesthetic goals, only to find new aspirations upon reaching them. The pursuit of athleticism, akin to that of an Olympian, demands unwavering mental fortitude. "It's primarily a mental game," asserts South African hockey player Onthatile Zulu. "Sacrifices are necessary, and it's all about making long-term, beneficial choices." Zulu emphasizes the significance of consistency in training, regardless of fitness objectives. "Finding ways to stay motivated and on track is crucial," she notes. "Having training partners holds me accountable." This paradoxical pursuit underscores the need for a balanced approach to fitness and athleticism.  While striving for perfection is admirable, it's equally importa...
Read more