Last week in New York City, a very unique event took place that challenged how women and soccer can help to make their world better. The Global Goals World Cup #GGWCUP incorporates the United Nations 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development #Act4SDGs and soccer women from around the world. Each team chooses one of the 17 goals and for a year they work to take steps toward attaining it. Then they come together to play one another on a pitch in a tournament.
I had no idea how impactful the women on these teams would be in what they determined to work for. Words can not describe how inspiring these women are. You can not help but come away from an event like this, ready to make small steps to achieve these goals. I would like to share some of the stories from these teams of women in hopes that you can take inspiration to make a difference too. We, as women and soccer players can come together in powerful ways. We see it on the pitch and now these stories can show you how to take that power off the pitch.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
This team is captained by Katerina Salsa from Greece. What makes this team amazing is that the girls recruited to play are all refugee women. It was unfortunate that, due to their refugee status, visas were not able to be obtained for them to play in NYC. I would have loved to meet them. Imagine having to leave your community, people you love, the culture and all the memories that make up your home life. The decision must be heart wrenching. But you do it as staying could mean terrible things, even death. Imagine the emotions and feelings that go with that as a woman: loss of control, powerlessness, fear, and anxiety.
FC Hestia provides something to counteract the vulnerability of refugee women. We have all benefited from the community and connection soccer provides. Many of us even have increased our confidence and self-esteem through soccer. Katerina sums up the Hestia mission perfectly when she states, "By bringing people together, building communities and fighting attitudes of xenophobia, negative gender stereotypes and racism, sport has the potential to make an important contribution to the integration of refugees in the EU."
Next Up on the Blog: TEAM FORCA GOA