Grassroot Soccer

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an international adolescent health organization that educates, inspires and mobilizes youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges and live healthier, more productive lives. GRS uses the power of soccer to connect young people with the mentors, information, and health services they need to thrive, and empowers adolescents to make educated choices about pressing health challenges such as HIV & AIDS, sexual health, gender-based violence, and malaria. GRS's evidence-based programs, led by trained local mentors (Caring Coaches), incorporate soccer into dynamic lessons about health and wellness that engage young people and break down cultural barriers. With proven results and a constant focus on research and innovation, GRS has reached over 1.3 million young people in nearly 50 countries with adolescent-friendly health education.

In our programming, GRS addresses the intersection between HIV and gender, and the disproportionate effect of HIV on females. We also address gender-based violence, provide linkages to sexual health services, and work with both girls and boys to challenge societal gender norms that inhibit equality.

Using Soccer to Empower Girls

SKILLZ Street is Grassroot Soccer’s unique girls-targeted program utilizing the format of an after school soccer league to educate and empower young women to avoid risky behavior and protect themselves from HIV. SKILLZ Street challenges gender norms by creating a safe space for young women to be themselves and learn new skills—while playing soccer, a sport traditionally reserved for boys in many communities. 

Women lead SKILLZ Street; it is coordinated and organized by GRS female staff members, ; the programme is facilitated and led by female Coaches. Throughout the entire programme, the Coaches encourage participants to speak freely and ask questions. A SKILLZ Street graduate shared her thoughts on the Coaches: “What I love about [SKILLZ Street] is that out Coaches are very open with us, they tell us things we want to know.” The girls are not only given the opportunity to gain reproductive health knowledge, they can play soccer – a sport that has been culturally defined as male-only. “I love the part of soccer, it helped me a lot and it showed again to us girls, us girls as young women [that]and we can also make our dreams come true with soccer. It’s not only for boys.” During every soccer session, they prove to others and to themselves that harmful gender norms need to be challenged. 

Using Soccer to Address Gender-Based Violence

Grassroot Soccer promotes gender-equitable relationships and the prevention of intimate partner violence among young men and women as a critical part of the HIV prevention strategy. Grassroot Soccer programmes facilitate reporting of violence; increase uptake of legal, medical, and psychosocial services; and provide peer-group support.

Read more about our approach to gender-based violence.