:: Mission
Goals for Girls is an international program for young girls that blends cultural exchange and education through the medium of soccer. The game of soccer creates a safe, team-based environment where young people from different cultures can build relationships and explore important and sensitive issues. In 2007, Goals for Girls will focus on HIV prevention and life skills for girls from Washington, DC and South Africa.

The Washington, DC-based DC Blast select soccer team of 14-16 year old girls will travel to Port Elizabeth, South Africa in June/July 2007 to conduct a soccer and life skills camp for 100 young girls. These 100 campers will:

  • Learn about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention techniques including positive lifestyle decision-making skills
  • Learn soccer skills and techniques through high-level coaching, tutoring, and tournament play
  • Receive Goals for Girls HIV Prevention handbook and magazines
  • Receive Goals for Girls Soccer Techniques and Strategy Handbook
  • Receive a brand new pair of sport shoes, socks and a jersey
  • Receive a brand new soccer ball
  • Receive daily breakfast and lunch
  • Receive Goals for Girls graduation Certificate and individual and team awards



    :: Partners in South Africa
    Goals for girls is working with the following local partners in South Africa to ensure that Goals for Girls program is sustainable and endures for years to come.

    Grassroot Soccer (www.grassrootsoccer.org) is an international HIV prevention organization that uses the game of soccer to teach young people how to avoid the risks of HIV/AIDS and how to care for those who are infected and affected by it. Goals for Girls will work closely with Grassroot Soccer to bring a cultural exchange and gender component to their existing program.

    Ubuntu Education Fund (www.ubuntufund.org) empowers vulnerable children and their families with skills and resources to lead healthy, prosperous lives. Their life-saving HIV services and education programs guide over 40,000 children through the crises of poverty, disease, and abuse. Goals for Girls will work with Ubuntu to ensure that all the needs of the young participants are met and to maximize the impact of the Goals for Girls program.

    Goals for Girls is also working closely with the US and South African governments to ensure the program has a wide reach for young girls in Port Elizabeth. Specifically, the US Embassy (Cape Town, South Africa) and the Port Elizabeth Department of Social Development will collaborate with Goals for Girls leading up to the June trip by providing political and logistical support.



    :: Goals for Girls 2007 itinerary
    • 1. Cape Town visit
    The DC Blast delegation will meet with the US Embassy on an official visit representing girls’ and women’s soccer in the US. The Embassy will arrange an educational tour for the team and introduce the team to local government officials in Cape Town. The delegation will also visit a girls’ primary school and take part in a panel where they will take questions on cultural issues and talk about being young women soccer players in the US.

    2. Port Elizabeth
  • a. Girls Kick Too
    Over two days, Goals for Girls will host soccer clinics for young girls in at least two communities. The goal is to get girls playing the game who otherwise don’t play and to inspire them to join the street soccer/pick-up soccer league Goals for Girls is helping to create. in Port Elizabeth. The street soccer league will give these girls an outlet where they can join their peers in an informal but structured environment. Having the Goals for Girls component will not only show these girls some of the soccer skills, but will show them that girls should be playing the sport!

  • b. Soccer and Life Skills Camp
    Over a 5 day period, the DC Blast, Grassroot Soccer, and Ubuntu Education Fund will run a soccer and life skills camp for 150 young girls from various communities. The camp will have outdoor and indoor activities and will have a special focus on HIV prevention and cultural exchange. A special HIV curriculum and a soccer workbook are being developed as well as take-home materials for each participant.
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