We are excited to share our newsletter, bringing you stories, updates, and insights on what’s happening at Girl Power globally!
April has been a big month at Girl Power! We have had big events and partnerships and we are getting ready to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Read on to find out more :)
Girl Power + KNVB WorldCoaches
At the beginning of April, Girl Power's founder, Khalida Popal, joined KNVB WorldCoaches in Ter Apel, at the biggest asylum seeker reception center in The Netherlands, to deliver two clinics on football, leadership, and life skills.
There, she was able to share her experience and the work of Girl Power to empower the refugee community through football. The coaches who participated in the clinics will be role models and inspiration for children and youth aiding integration and strengthening local communities.
One of the sessions was for women coaches only. When girls see women coaches who share similar backgrounds and experiences, they feel understood, they feel safe, they are open and they want to participate.
That is why at Girl Power we work hard to identify, recruit and educate young women from our own communities to become coaches and leaders, and we are proud to take part in initiatives like this one.
Thank you to UEFA Foundation for Children for their support.
Leadership Academy Hamburg
From April 16-19 Girl Power celebrated its Leadership Academy in Hamburg, Germany.
We welcomed 25 young women from refugee backgrounds. Through this experience they got to learn about leadership, storytelling and coaching skills that will support them in their leadership journeys.
Day 1 was focused on introductions and community building.
Day 2 was the real start of the academy. We had a full schedule of workshops and activities for the participants focused on discovering oneself.
On Day 3 the focus was on finding one’s identity as a coach. Through talks, storytelling and group activities, our young leaders continued learning about themselves and what type of leader they want to become to inspire the next generations of girls in sport.
Day 4, the last day of the Girl Power Leadership Academy, was graduation day for our participants. We named this day “The leader in you”. To close the Leadership Academy, we asked the young leaders to take charge and practice their skills as coaches and speakers.
The journey continues for our young leaders with online workshops, mentoring and coaching opportunities. We are excited to see what they do next!
A big thank you to our supporters and collaborators: the Olympic Refuge Foundation, New Balance Foundation, UEFA Foundation for Children, Butterfly by Yusra Mardini, FC St Pauli, Eeden Hamburg, Johann-Wilhelm-Rautenberg-Gesellschaft, Fussball Kann Mehr, Hamburger HV
Girl Power UK's Fatema Baratyan nominated for 3 awards
We’re proud to see our Girl Power UK team member Fatema Baratyan nominated in three categories at the Northamptonshire county FA Awards 👏
Through her work in Peterborough, Fatema built a futsal team for girls from migrant backgrounds — giving them a safe space to play, grow, and feel part of a community.
She's nominated for the categories of:
• Positive Behaviour Award
• Female Pathway Coach of the Year
• Lioness Award
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 24th July.
The entire Girl Power team is wishing Fatema the best of luck.
A special recognition for someone making a real difference, on and off the pitch 💪❤️
Sport Coach+ Program in Poland
From 20–23 April, Girl Power participated in the train-the-trainer sessions of the Sport Coach+ program with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub in Poland.
This program strengthens our understanding of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing when working with vulnerable communities. Thanks to this instructor course, our team is now certified to deliver the Sport Coach+ course in our Leadership Academies and train new coaches.
Girl Power Impact: 300 certificates delivered where classrooms are banned
In 2025, 300 women completed a fully funded leadership and professional development program earning certificates from a partnership between Girl Power Organisation, Mexoxo, and Cornell University.
They studied. They learned. They grew. And for many, it was their first formal education in years.
The numbers:
1,000 scholarships offered to refugee women and women in Afghanistan
300 women completed the program
300 certificates awarded
22 hours of leadership and professional training delivered
Every certificate earned is a direct challenge to a system that says women don't belong in classrooms. Every hour studied is an act of resistance against a regime that banned girls from learning.
This is just one part of a year where Girl Power reached over 106,350 people, trained 50+ coaches, graduated 7 young women from a 6-month coaching and leadership program and helped bring Afghan women footballers back onto the international stage through the creation of the Afghan United Team.
Get involved
Program Coordinator - Denmark
Girl Power is looking for a Program Coordinator to support us in strengthening the partnerships and resources needed to grow Girl Power’s impact and successfully deliver our upcoming initiatives in Denmark.
If you want to contribute to creating safer and more inclusive spaces in football, apply here by May 3rd: Program coordinator - Denmark application
Thank you to everyone who continues to support, collaborate, and believe in our mission.
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