We are excited to share our newsletter, bringing you stories, updates, and insights on what’s happening at Girl Power globally!
As we count down to Girl Power's 10th anniversary this September, we’re taking a moment to celebrate not only how far we’ve come, but also the work that continues every day. July was another inspiring month of empowering women and girls, building communities, and creating opportunities through the power of football.
Girl Power approves new bylaws and announces new board member
We are delighted to officially welcome Nicholas (Nick) Sore to the Girl Power Board of Directors. Nick brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience in sport for social impact, strategic partnerships, and humanitarian development. Throughout his career, he has built global collaborations with organisations including FIFA, UEFA, the IOC, UNHCR, FC Barcelona, and adidas, helping to mobilise significant resources and create opportunities for displaced and marginalised communities through sport. His expertise in governance, strategic partnerships, and organisational development will be an invaluable asset as Girl Power continues to expand its global impact and strengthen its long-term vision.
Launching Girl Power Mexico: Harnessing the legacy of the FIFA World Cup
While Girl Power has collaborated with partners in Mexico since 2016, the official launch of Girl Power Mexico marks a significant milestone in establishing a long-term local presence and expanding opportunities for women and girls through football, leadership, and education.
At the heart of Girl Power’s expansion model is partnership. Rather than creating new structures, we work alongside trusted, women-led organisations that share our mission and values. In Mexico, we are proud to officially establish our presence through our long-term sister organisation, Más Sueños, strengthening local leadership and ensuring sustainable impact.
Building on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup, Girl Power Mexico delivered a series of activities that brought together community members, media, and key stakeholders to amplify the voices of women and girls. Through football, storytelling, and dialogue, we highlighted the experiences of displaced communities and survivors of gender-based violence, using the World Cup's global spotlight to raise awareness, foster inclusion, and drive meaningful change. Link to the media coverage.
Football, Art & Leadership: Celebrating Inclusion During the World Cup
As part of the FIFA World Cup and Refugee Month celebrations, Girl Power Mexico brought together an inspiring team of changemakers to champion inclusion through football, art, and leadership. The delegation included Canadian professional artist Carling Jackson, Maltese professional footballer and coach Nicole Espinel Bautista, an alumnus of the Girl Power Leadership Academy, and Girl Power Founder Khalida Popal.
In partnership with Más Sueños México, the team delivered football clinics for children living in two asylum centres, alongside empowerment workshops for mothers. By combining football, art, and storytelling, the programme created safe spaces where participants could build confidence, strengthen community connections, and express their experiences through creativity and play.
Building Inclusive Coaches
As part of the programme, Girl Power also delivered the Sport Coach+ course, developed by the MHPSS Hub, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Olympic Refuge Foundation.
The one-day course was facilitated by certified Sport Coach+ instructor Khalida Popal and co-facilitated by Nicole Espinel Bautista and trained 45 coaches from Mexico City and across the country to use sport as a tool for mental health, psychosocial support, inclusion, and safeguarding.
Creating Pathways Through Sport
This initiative is creating lasting opportunities. As a direct outcome, Girl Power will welcome a delegation from Más Sueños México to the Girl Power Football Summit 2026 in Copenhagen this September, connecting local leaders with a global movement for inclusion through football.
The programme also contributed to Plan International Mexico’s global campaign, using the FIFA World Cup to amplify the voices of women, girls, and displaced communities. Link here...
The initiative concluded with Girl Power participating in the Violeta Women’s and Girls’ Football Tournament, in Partnership with Plan International Mexico and UNHCR Mexico, bringing together 26 teams from across Mexico to celebrate women’s football and community.
The programme gained national and international recognition through media coverage and was featured by UN Football for the Goals, reaching its global network of more than 500 organisations. Together with our partners, Girl Power continues to transform football into a platform for leadership, inclusion, and opportunity, ensuring the voices of women, girls, and displaced communities are heard on the global stage.
Girl Power's Community Coaching Programme arrives in Bristol
Girl Power United CIC proudly launched its Community Coaching Programme in Bristol, UK, in partnership with Team Brave, ( a local women-led organisation), delivering the Sport Coach+ course to a passionate group of community coaches, PE teachers, mental health & well-being experts, sport practitioners, and players.
Now a core part of Girl Power’s Community Coaching Programme, Sport Coach+ is a trauma-informed training designed to equip coaches with the skills to support young people affected by displacement, adversity, and trauma. The programme recognises that coaches are more than instructors; they are trusted mentors who can create safe, inclusive, and empowering environments through sport.
The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with coaches embracing practical tools and approaches to better support their communities. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and to Team Brave for making this collaboration possible.
Our Girl Power United team also participated in a tournament organised by Team Brave.
In a day filled with football, new friendships, community, and unforgettable moments, we enjoyed an amazing football exchange and tournament experience with other local grassroots football clubs.
We are beyond excited and proud to bring home the tournament trophy 🏆✨, a celebration of teamwork, passion, and the power of football to connect people from different backgrounds.
This initiative was proudly powered by the New Balance Foundation, whose support continues to strengthen Girl Power's mission to empower women and girls through football.
Girl Power United CIC coach receives Lioness Award
We are delighted to share that our Girl Power United coach, Fatema Baratyan, has been awarded the Lioness Award at the Northamptonshire FA Grassroots Awards for her work coaching our Girl Power team in Peterborough, UK! 🎉👑
The Lioness Award recognises someone who’s moved women's or girls’ football forward or created new opportunities in the female game.
This award is a testament to the great work that Fatema is doing with other coaches, helping girls to play football in their community and being a role model and inspiring leader.
A big congratulations to Fatema from the entire Girl Power team. 💫
Celebrating the Impact of the Girl Power Leadership Academy
The Girl Power Leadership Academy 2026 continues to prove that football is more than a game; it is a pathway to leadership, education, integration, and belonging. We are committed to creating opportunities that connect displaced and host-country communities, fostering friendships and opening doors for women and girls.
This commitment has led to an exciting new partnership with Volkswagen Germany and VfL Wolfsburg, who will host the Girl Power Football Tournament and Summer Camp this August. Girl Power will bring refugee players representing Germany, the UK, Denmark, and Portugal together with host-community teams, using football to build bridges across cultures and communities.
The event also marks the fifth anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan and the systematic ban on women and girls’ education, sport, and public life. Throughout the tournament, Girl Power’s players will dedicate their platform to stand in solidarity with the women and girls who remain in Afghanistan, raising awareness of their ongoing struggle and reaffirming that their voices will not be forgotten.
A special thank you to the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), the UEFA Foundation for Children, and the New Balance Foundation for believing in our vision, trusting our work, and standing with us to create lasting impact.
Here’s what some of our young leaders had to say about their experience:
Looking ahead
As Girl Power celebrates its 10th anniversary, our commitment to creating opportunities for refugee, displaced, and marginalised women and girls is stronger than ever. Over the coming months, we will continue to expand our impact by:
- Launching a second cohort of young leaders through the Girl Power Leadership Academy.
- Establishing a second football team for teenage girls in Peterborough.
- Expanding Girl Power’s programmes and partnerships in Mexico.
- Delivering our Community Coaching Programme and trauma-informed coaching methodology in collaboration with organisations and football clubs across Europe.
To make this possible, our 10th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign will continue until the end of the year. Since launching in May, we have already raised more than €4,000 towards creating more opportunities for women and girls through football.
To everyone who has donated, partnered with us, and championed our mission — thank you. Your support is helping us build a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to lead, belong, and thrive through the power of sport.
YOU can contribute to creating more impact by supporting our 2026 fundraising campaign:
Our Goal: €10,000 by the end of 2026
Your Part: Just €10
Our Dream: 1,000 donations = 1,000 believers
What your €10 does: Funds a girl's spot in our Leadership Academy. Travel. Accommodation. Course costs. A career pathway. A completely different future. One donation. Ten euros. Infinite impact.
👉 DONATE NOW
