Jugamos Juntas x Girls United

¡Juega como Niña llegó a Iztapalapa como parte de Jugamos Juntas, la iniciativa creada por Laureus Sports for Good y Nike México! Juega como Niña es un programa de Chicas Unidas dirigido a niñas de 7 a 12 años que radican en Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México. La finalidad del programa es darle a las niñas un espacio seguro para jugar fútbol. Los entrenamientos están dirigidos no solamente a mejorar sus habilidades futbolísticas, sino también a empoderarlas como líderes y darles herramientas de vida.

El deporte permite a las niñas y mujeres sentirse libres de alzar su voz y ser escuchadas, pero sobre todo, a trazar caminos para lograr sus sueños.

- Ana Reynoso, Mexico City Manager de Laureus Sports for Good

Desde Girls United nuestra meta principal es que las niñas y mujeres de todo el mundo tengan el mismo acceso al deporte y brindarles habilidades que mejoren sus oportunidades de participar en la educación, en la economía y en el deporte. Con este programa nos expandimos y llegamos a la Ciudad de México para continuar impactando vidas y generando un cambio social, no solamente en las niñas, también en sus familias, escuelas y comunidad.

“Inaugurar la sede Chicas Unidas CDMX es un paso enorme para la organización. Nos emociona mucho poder lanzar nuestro programa Juega Como Niña en colaboración con Nike y Laureus, quienes comparten nuestra pasión por crear espacios seguros deportivos para las niñas. Para mí es un logro muy especial porque aquí nací y fue aquí en donde conocí el futbol. Ahora me toca ver cómo otras niñas aprenden a amar este deporte en nuestros entrenamientos. Desde que iniciamos el programa Juega Como Niña, hemos ido conociendo a decenas de familias, niñas y coaches de Iztapalapa que apuestan por la equidad de género, dentro y fuera de la cancha. Nos inspira ver a la comunidad de Chicas Unidas seguir creciendo e impactar positivamente la vida de tantas niñas. A través de esta colaboración impactaremos a muchas más.”

- Romina Calatayud, Fundadora de Chicas Unidas

A lo largo de 12 meses, tendremos entrenamientos semanales y se impartirán pláticas y sesiones de aprendizaje sobre temas como: equidad de género, empoderamiento femenil y experiencias de vida.

Puedes seguir el proceso de este programa desde nuestras redes sociales, Facebook, Instagram y LinkedIn, donde estaremos compartiendo cada parte del proceso.

Por la equidad dentro y fuera de la cancha.

Girls United Takeover Wembley Stadium

On Thursday 17 November, we partnered with Nike FC and Girls Super League to host a unique experience for 160 girls from across London at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. 

Hosted by dynamic duo, Mollie and Rosie Kmita, this once in a lifetime event was a celebration of grassroots girl’s football in London. 

Participants aged 10 to 16 were presented with branded kit on arrival and directed towards the team changing rooms. As players walked out of the tunnel onto the pitch, they were met by professional Nike trainers Jamie Velocity and Anthony Aluko, Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Head Coach Rehanne Skinner and former England and Arsenal captain Rachel Yankey, who each delivered technical skill sessions from passing to dribbling and shooting. 

As each group of players rotated between these on-pitch activities they were also invited to take part in yoga sessions with Nike yoga teacher, Sam Vora and Zhila White and a workshop delivered by educational charity Football Beyond Borders. This workshop centred around the experience of being a girl in football, based on FFB’s social and emotional learning curriculum. Attendees heard from female and non-binary practitioners on their journey and in return were asked “What makes you, you?” and to draw their own identity map.

Following the final rotation between the various activities on offer, all 160 girls took part in a series of mini-games on the very same pitch that their idols sealed a historic European Championship win earlier this year. 

As games drew to a close, Tottenham Hotspur Women player Asmita Ale joined for a Q&A session and the presenting of official England Women kits to participants who displayed exceptional levels of teamwork and fair play throughout the event. 

BOXPARK Wembley was the final destination of the event with all participants invited to enjoy food and refreshments to round off a very exciting day.

Romina Calatayud, Girls United Founder and CEO said: “This really is what it’s all about and I’m very grateful to Nike and the FA for this incredible opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime for all involved, myself included. After the inspiration we felt during this summer’s Euro, we have looked for ways to ensure the legacy reaches girls everywhere – this is a completely unique and impactful way to bring the grassroots together with the growth of the game and make dreams come true!" 

Have a look at the highlights!

International Day of the Girl Event: Dreams come through...

Dreams of reaching the top and the legacy of the Lionesses Euros victory at grassroots level.

Girls United marked International Day of the Girl with a panel discussion at BOXPARK Shoreditch, supported by Sports Direct

On Friday 21 October 2022, Girls United brought their London community together in Central London to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Girl with an intimate event which included a panel discussion hosted by Mollie and Rosie Kmita, as well as the unveiling of their latest concept kit designed by award winning designers Play.

This year is the 10th anniversary of International Day of the Girl, a day to raise awareness and visibility around the inequality girls face across the world. The theme of the celebration, “Dreams come through…”, focused conversations around the dreams and ambitions of girls in football.

This follows a recent report published by Women in Sport and event sponsors Sports Direct which revealed the existence of “a dream gap”. According to this survey, nearly 70% of girls who love playing sport dream of reaching the top, almost levelling with sporty boys at 75%. However, Half as many girls (21%) as boys (39%) say that they do lots of sport and 17% more girls than boys say they love sport but lack the opportunity to play.

Whilst girls in sport are now dreaming bigger, there are still too many barriers preventing girls from accessing sport and the opportunities required to reach the very top.

The panel discussion hosted by Mollie and Rosie Kmita, presenters of the Barclays Women’s Championship Show on Sky Sports and owners of Level 7 Academy, included Girls United under 10s player Elizabeth Perrett and Girls United London Manager, Abigail Ingram. With the conversation delving into each panellist's dreams and aspirations, the various barriers faced by girls and the legacy of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros was also discussed.

Elizabeth spoke of her experience with Girls United as a mascot at the Euro’s opening game at Old Trafford, which set the Lionesses on their way to a historic home tournament victory. A victory that was swiftly followed by an open letter from the European Champions demanding more opportunities for girls to play football.

During the discussion Elizabeth said that her dream was to “one day play for England as a striker, or maybe play in a band” but also crucially that her experience as a mascot with Girls United and playing in weekly sessions had helped her to believe that this “might just be possible”.

Mollie, Rosie and Abigail shared their own experiences and highlighted the importance of grassroots organisations such as Girls United and their own Level 7 Academy in providing these very opportunities for young people in London and beyond.

The event also gave Girls United the perfect opportunity to unveil their new away kit, designed by award winning Play and chosen by the Girls United community. The kit pays tribute to one of Brixton’s most celebrated icons, David Bowie, and connects the organisation to their South London roots. Niall Smillie of Play was in attendance at BOXPARK and provided an insight into the design process.

Romina Calatayud, Girls United Founder and CEO commented: “Bringing our community together to celebrate girls and young women who chase their dreams is very important to us. We wanted to mark International Day of the Girl in a meaningful way that could raise awareness around the barriers faced by girls and young women in building those dreams. Encouraging girls to dream and giving them the tools and experiences to do so is a fundamental part of gender equality.

“I was lucky enough to be with Elizabeth and 10 other Girls United players when they walked out of the tunnel at Old Trafford, into the bright lights and booming atmosphere of a sold out match. There is no doubt that experiences like that and seeing women’s football getting the exposure it deserves are important steps in the right direction.

“Ultimately the legacy of this summer’s Euros will be determined by whether or not structural changes are made in order to address issues such as the dream gap and barriers faced by girls wishing to play football are removed. More schools need to open their football sessions to girls, pitches need to be made available and funding needs to reach the grassroots.”

This event was part of Girls United’s wider International Day of the Girl celebrations which included an intersquad tournament being held in Mexico and a Game Day event taking place at Streatham Vale Park in London. These events brought over 120 girls together to play football and take part in workshops, themed around dreams and ambitions.

Venue sponsor BOXPARK launched its #WOMXNWHOPLAY campaign to champion women in sport and inspire the next generation of female athletes and sports enthusiasts, ahead of the Women’s European championships. As part of the initiative, BOXPARK curated an ‘all-womxn sports team’, collaborating with 12 trailblazers in the sports to celebrate women in sport, whilst exploring the deeper issues faced by young women when pursuing a career or hobby in sports through exhibitions, a series of motivational panel talks with the talent and guest speakers, live podcasts and workshops.

¡Chicas Unidas organizó el torneo de fut femenil más grande de Q.Roo!

Durante el 11 y 12 de junio, 198 jugadoras de entre 8 y 45 años demostraron sus habilidades en el Torneo Chicas Unidas 2022. El evento reunió a cerca de 300 espectadores que animaron a las jugadoras, junto con nuestra invitada especial y Embajadora Global de Girls United: Caroline Weir.

El Torneo visibilizó la falta de espacios competitivos para las etapas formativas. El ambiente estuvo lleno de inspiración, ya que las pequeñas pudieron observar y convivir con modelos a seguir deportivos como Caroline, jugadora de Escocia y de la FA Women’s Super League con el Manchester City.

“Creo que lo que me voy a llevar de esta experiencia es cuán importante es la etapa formativa. ¡Es tan importante! Es ahí cuando las niñas se enamoran del futbol. Ha sido increíble verlo.”

— Caroline Weir

El evento estuvo marcado por el espíritu de la sana competencia y el fortalecimiento de la comunidad del futbol femenil en la región. 

Las jugadoras disfrutaron de una zona de retos en donde pusieron a prueba su puntería. También compartieron sus Perfiles de Jugadoras, en donde nos contaron algunos momentos en los que se han sentido orgullosas de jugar futbol, cuáles son sus sueños y quiénes son sus modelos a seguir. La premiación también reflejó estos valores con el Premio al Juego Limpio.

El Torneo Chicas Unidas 2022 se realizó en la Unidad Deportiva Serapio Maas, en Bacalar, Quintana Roo, ¡sede de los primeros entrenamientos de Chicas Unidas hace más de cinco años! Nos llenó de emoción ver estas mismas canchas llenas de jugadoras, familiares y amigos que entienden el impacto de impulsar el futbol femenil, y el cambio que causa por una sociedad más equitativa.

---

CAROLINE WEIR EN CHICAS UNIDAS MÉXICO
La visita de nuestra embajadora Caroline Weir sucedió durante su transición como jugadoras profesional del Manchester City al Real Madrid, dos clubes legendarios. Ahora es de las jugadoras más destacadas en la Liga español. Durante su tiempo con Chicas Unidas Mexico, visito las distintas sedes, conviviendo con las niñas y enseñándoles su técnica que le permite meter tantos goles!
Aquí puedes escuchar de Caroline lo que la visita significo para ella.