Pink Balls For Girls in Chile: Leveling the Field
GROUP PHOTO OF PARTICIPANTS FROM 5 SCHOOLS AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY, 12/21/19 — JERSEY COLORS : YELLOW, AGES 4-7; RED, 7-10; GREEN, 10-13; BLUE, 13-19
Images For Inclusion’s unique and comprehensive pilot program, Pink Balls For Girls en Chile: Leveling the Field, consisted in providing all participants (mainly indigenous Mapuche girls ages 4 to 18 living in rural areas from 5 separate schools) the following: a soccer ball, a t-shirt and a 2-3 months basic training program. It also included lunch and transportation. Among other activities, we showed them documentaries about the history of women’s soccer and other girls’ experiences in other countries to inspire and encourage all participants to be confident and believe in themselves.
This pilot program took place in the poorest region of Chile and where the majority of the indigenous population is Mapuche (71% of the Mapuche live in Santiago, the Metropolitan region) and thereby suffer from constant racial and gender discrimination and social exclusion. We were supported by the Embassy of the United States of America in Santiago with the purpose of creating social inclusion. We also created an alliance with a local University in Temuco, La Araucania Region, called La Frontera, to be able to increase the number of girls who benefited and attain all our goals.
HEADING TO THE SCHOOLS TO PICK UP APPLICATION FORMS
PARENTS AND TRAINERS CONFERENCE
The purpose of the parents and trainers conference was to enhance the knowledge and understanding of our project’s objective and to provide an opportunity for parents to share their concerns. It was mandatory to officially register the participants. We also let them know we needed their support as it was essential to for the project to be successful. We were happily surprised to see the room full. Several parents whose daughter had not been selected came asking to add them to our waiting list.
PHOTOS TAKEN FOR GIVEN IDENTITY CARDS
Photo sessions tend to raise people's self esteem because it often makes them feel special, important and no longer invisible. The Credentials we created with their portraits were beneficial for the girls not only as a form of identification, but they helped the girls see themselves as an important part of our project. In addition, it provided a sense of unity among all participants, which in turn promoted a healthy and friendly environment. They also became testimonials and mementos that will last for a lifetime.
THE INAUGURATION — THE START OF A DIFFICULT, BUT BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY — BRAVO!
MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE FROM THE MAPUCHE SOCCER PLAYER — MEMBER OF CHILE NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM
SURPRISE THANK YOU VIDEO PREPARED FOR THE INAUGURATION
THE FIRST CLASS AFTER THE INAUGURATION
We started our first class right after the inauguration. It was a crucial moment after much effort had been done to bring this project to life. We felt truly blessed.
ENCOURAGEMENT MESSAGE FROM THE NATIVE AMERICAN CONGRESSWOMAN: First indigenous Congresswoman for New Mexico, and now Secretary of Interior.
We had the tremendous honor and pleasure to get an inspiring and empowering message from Deb Haaland. She sent us this beautiful message for the inauguration of our Pink Balls for Girls en Chile: Nivelando la Cancha inauguration event.
LUNCH FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Our lunch included water or juice, salad, fruit or dessert, and a choice of two main meals. It was greatly appreciated by all since the classes started at 9am and the girls had to travel an hour to get there and finished around 1pm, so a nutritious meal was needed and well deserved.
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM RURAL SCHOOLS
TRAINING
LEARNING ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF WOMEN IN SOCCER IN ARGENTINA BY WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY
WRITING THEIR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY AND A STORY OF THEIR OWN
LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF FEMALE SOCCER IN EUROPE BY WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF FÚTBOL AND USING IT WHILE WRITING OR DRAWING ABOUT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES
THEY ANSWERS THROUGH DRAWINGS
BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND BOOSTING THEIR SELF ESTEEM WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER
Greeting each other at the start of each class was mandatory. Girls were asked to say their full name, where they came from, their indigenous nation and why they were there.
VISIT FROM MORIA MILLAN — A INDIGENOUS MAPUCHE LEADER FROM PUELMAPU (ARGENTINA)
OUR FINAL DAY
YELLOW TEAM : 4 - 7 YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS
BLUE TEAM : 13 - 19 YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS
GREEN TEAM : 10 - 13 YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS
RED TEAM: 7 - 10 YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS
We aimed at empowing them by helping raise their self-esteem, develop leadership, team work and communication skills, and for them to enjoy other great benefits of playing soccer. We envisioned the girls being happy, exercising their rights, and having equal opportunities for healthy emotional, social and physical development. And we did it!
SOCCER MOMS
Keeping all participants and their parents/guardians engaged and motivated, especially throughout the time we had to cancel our classes due to the social explosion in Chile, was truly challenging, but everyone’s commitment and particularly the moms, helped us move forward and accomplish our goals. They were our greatest allies and we thank them deeply for their trust, persistence, and their unconditional support for their daughters.
CLOSING CEREMONY MAPUCHE MUSIC AND PARTICIPANT’S SPEECH
CLOSING CEREMONY: TROPHIES AND MEDALS TO SHOW WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
We provided medals to all girls at the Closing Ceremony and one trophy was awarded to each school that participated so they could be proud of the girls’ accomplishment.
CLOSING CEREMONY: CERTIFICATES OF HAVING COMPLETED THE PROGRAM
These were direct steps and actions we created that gave the girls a visible sense of accomplishment, and mementos they will keep and cherish forever.
GROUPS PHOTOS
WE MADE IT TO THE NEWS!
We felt very honored and very proud to make it to the Online News and the main regional Newspaper’s Front Page and Sports section at the end of our project. Unfortunately, the sports section seemed unwilling to understand we were teaching girls how to play soccer and they published that we were giving physical education classes instead of fútbol (soccer). Regardless, we thanked them for the great opportunity. Click on the Next & Previous arrow to view all news posts.