So why was the programme created?
And all of these things can play into your personal development.
This is where Football Beyond Borders comes into play.
Being the first girl Football Beyond Borders ever worked with was an honour, says Nelson, now 20.
Being the only girl in a male space is quite a difficult space to navigate.
While young peoples mental health deteriorated over their teenage years, girls were more significantly impacted.
But Football Beyond Borders aims to tackle that.
So how does football come in?
The charity ultimately uses football as a tool for social change.
Belonging
Nelson continues: They asked, what happened?, and I told them.
They said: Why didn’t you say anything?
We would have stopped playing, we would have done something you’re part of our team.
And that was for me, the first time that I felt secure; a sense of belonging.
While the programme ended four years ago, theyre now some of her closest friends.
Its this feeling of belonging the girls programme at Football Beyond Borders wants to preserve.
The importance of supporting young people with interpersonal relationships as they navigate life is threaded throughout the programme too.
I had to be on an all-boys program just to play football, says Nelson.
We live in a world where women are pitted against each other, she says.
The charity now engages with 500 girls nationally since its 2018 launch.
We teach them to leave the drama at the door, says Nelson.
Its all about empowering each other.
So where does the future lie for Football Beyond Borders?
This article was originally published onMarch 12, 2022
