Empowering and inspiring refugees - the Girl Power programme

We have developed our own leadership programme with a curriculum which mixes physical training and sports activities with workshops.

The programme uses best practices from the sporting world as well as the social sector. Our workshops contain elements which are necessary in developing leadership skills such as inclusion, role models, storytelling and implementing the UN’s sustainable development goals.

We also invite people from the international Girl Power network to act as guest speakers. This gives the young leaders a range of inspiration and motivation and an opportunity for the speakers to give back to the network, giving inspiration to others and showing participants what a female role model looks like, so they can recognise the role model within themselves.

The third element is our mentorship programme for young females. We use the trainer model to support young leaders on how to use the power of sport to create impact in their communities.

 

WSC: Why is it so important to provide these opportunities to refugee communities?

KP: All of the Girl Power activities are based on a ’give back’ mindset and it is an important part of the way Girl Power values are taught. 

We lead by example and every person in the Girl Power network has joined to give back. By teaching young women and girls to give back and see themselves as part of a community, we inspire them to take a leadership role.

Therefore, positive storytelling is an essential part of Girl Power activities. Making the role models visible also makes more young women follow their lead.

Storytelling allows the young leaders to own their story and show the positive contributions they are making to the community.

Through the stories, we show what the girls and women have achieved and provide role models to give inspiration to others in similar situations, hopefully inspiring them to create change in their own lives and their communities.

We also use this to show that social change is possible and that we all have the resources to create change in society and in our local communities.

The giving back mindset is an important part of creating empowerment. Once you realise you have something to offer to society, this is when you feel empowered.

 

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CASE STUDIES

"I discovered my power as one of the participants of the Girl Power football training at the refugee centre.

"Life as a refugee wasn’t easy, especially with the trauma we have been through. Through activities, we engaged and had time to escape from difficult thoughts and think differently.

"After receiving my refugee status with Girl Power, I have managed to travel to a few European countries and speak at different events, and join workshops. 

"Now I am volunteering in the organisation to support more women to find own their voices and power. 

"Losing your identity, and going from being someone to being no-one, is difficult. Coming to a new culture, new community and a new identity is not an easy process - but if you have a community who you can identify with and feel like you belong to, the process will be a bit easier."

Sima Kamal

 

"I joined the Girl Power training programmes in a refugee centre.

"I felt happy after each training session. I felt powerful and stronger, more able to overcome the challenges of waiting for an unknown future at the refugee centre.

"I also joined some of the panel debates and conferences, organised by Girl Power, as a speaker. I felt ownership and power over my voice and story. 

"When I got permission to stay in Denmark through the Girl Power network, I got a full-time job offer. 

"Since then, I have been working in sport and I feel financially and emotionally powerful. I am contributing positively to society and changing the narratives about refugees."

Lina Akbari

 

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