Creating A Not-For-Profit Organization to Empower Young Girl Athletes

Reasons Young Girl Athletes are Important
Young girl athletes have a unique role in society. Sporting events help bring people
together and, in so doing, foster unity. Young female athletes are the future of the sporting
industry. In recent years, many people have concentrated on health and longevity. As many
people seek to make healthy choices, many governments and business ventures are continuing to
invest in sports (Lindsey, 2013). The rise of the internet and television has elevated sports and
sporting activities. Athletes, both professional and amateurs, have an economic, cultural and
political influence on society. When a country hosts sporting activities, it boosts tourism and
increases the revenue collections from visiting fans. The sporting industry also benefits many
stakeholders, including broadcasters and organizers. Sports also play a role in the formulation of
national identity. When people watch sports, their cheer their national teams and sportspeople.
Young female athletes have a role to play in current and future sporting activities.
Importance of the Empowerment Movement
The empowerment of young girls is in line with the achievement of global goals for
sustainable development. One of the main reasons why empowering young female athletes is
important relates to human rights (Lindsey, 2013). Girls have a right to participate in sporting
activities as well as other economic activities. In empowering girls, the movement is shielding
them from different forms of gender-based discrimination. Empowering girls also helps in
breaking the cycle of poverty (Knifsend & Graham, 2012). When girls are empowered to
participate in economic activities such as professional sports, they will invest in their families.
The implication is that this will help in ending the cycle of poverty that has characterized many

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nations. Girls have faced gender-based discrimination in the past. They have been high levels of
inequality that have characterized various levels of societies, including sporting activities. Sexual
and gender-based violence has characterized society. Young girls are at a high risk of unintended
pregnancy as well as contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Unintended pregnancies can have
a negative bearing on their sporting careers. They, therefore, need to be equipped with the skills
that will help them navigate through various obstacles that they may face in their careers.
Impact of the Empowerment movement on Young Girls Around the World
Girls from various parts of the world will benefit by having an organization that cares and
advocates for their rights. Girls will have strong mentors that will help them through the journey
of sports (Lindsey, 2013). The girls will be connected to growth and development. They will be
able to have access to social and economic opportunities (Knifsend & Graham, 2012). The
empowerment will help ensure that the young female athletes have the skills to cope with their
day-to-day challenges. They will understand the steps that they need to take in order to achieve
success in their careers. The athletes will be connected to other athletes who are facing similar
challenges. The implication is that this will help form a strong team where ideas will be
exchanged as well as experiences shared. The organization will help lobby the government as
well as other stakeholders in the sporting industry for favorable policies. The organization will
act as the advocate for the young girls and will help ensure that there is a favorable environment
that will help the young female athletes to thrive and achieve success in various sporting
activities.

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References

Knifsend, C. A., & Graham, S. (2012). Unique challenges facing female athletes in urban high
schools. Sex roles, 67(3), 236-246.
Lindsey, T. B. (2013). “One time for my girls”: African-American girlhood, empowerment, and
popular visual culture. Journal of African American Studies, 17(1), 22-34.