Starting with a Saturday: football as a lifeline
In Suna East and nearby Marienga Village, a Saturday morning ritual unfolds on a dusty village field. A group of girls gathers for a football practice, but this is more than sport. It is a structured program that uses football to teach life skills, resilience, and informed choices designed to tackle teen pregnancy. The field becomes a classroom where teamwork, discipline, and goal-setting translate into real-world confidence and agency.
Football as a gateway to life skills
Football is not just about scoring goals; it is a powerful platform for engaging young women on topics they often avoid. Coaches blend on-pitch drills with life skills modules—communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, and understanding sexual and reproductive health. The goal is to provide girls with practical tools to navigate peer pressure, economic challenges, and early independence, reducing the risk of early pregnancy.
Key life skills taught through the game
- Communication: Players learn to advocate for themselves, set boundaries, and seek help when needed.
- Decision-making: Real-life scenarios are discussed, enabling girls to weigh consequences before acting.
- Teamwork and leadership: Roles on the field mirror leadership opportunities off the field, building confidence to lead peers and seek mentors.
- Financial literacy: Simple budgeting and saving concepts empower girls to plan for education or small businesses.
- Sexual and reproductive health: Accurate information, access to health services, and the importance of delaying pregnancy until ready.
Why football works in this context
In communities where resources are limited and stigma can silence conversations about adolescence, a beloved sport provides a non-threatening entry point. The shared language of football helps girls bond, stay engaged, and trust mentors. Regular practice also instills routine, healthful habits, and self-discipline—factors that correlate with delayed pregnancy and continued education.
Community impact beyond the field
Parents, teachers, and local leaders notice shifts in behavior. Girls who used to drop out of school are staying in class longer, dreams of further studies re-emerge, and a culture of open dialogue around pregnancy prevention begins to take root. The program often involves families—parents attend workshops showing how to support their daughters while protecting their health and futures. When communities invest in girls through football and life skills, the ripple effects touch health, education, and economic well-being.
Overcoming challenges and measuring success
Challenges include limited facilities, funding gaps, and cultural norms that discourage girls from leadership roles. Programs address these by partnering with local NGOs, schools, and health services to provide mobile clinics, menstrual health resources, and safe spaces for candid conversations. Success is tracked through attendance, school retention rates, and self-reported confidence in making healthier life choices. The most meaningful indicator is the girls’ perception of control over their futures and their ability to delay pregnancy until they choose to start a family.
Expanding the model: how others can replicate it
Communities seeking to replicate this approach should prioritize:
– A safe playing field and regular practice times that suit local schedules
– Trained coaches who can weave life skills into football drills
– Partnerships with health providers for education and services
– Inclusive participation that involves both girls and supportive family members
– Simple monitoring tools to track progress in education, health outcomes, and well-being
Conclusion: football as a catalyst for protected futures
At its core, using football to teach life skills offers a practical, culturally resonant strategy to tackle teen pregnancy. It creates a supportive network around young women, strengthens communities, and—by aligning sport with education and health—helps girls claim brighter, more autonomous futures.
