Fundación GOLEES is a nonprofit founded in 2019 that uses soccer for social transformation, fostering dignified, autonomous, and violence-free lives for girls. Its programs combine sports training with socio-educational workshops and psychosocial support. The program reaches more than 250 girls annually in marginalized communities within the Tjai Cabécar Indigenous Territory.
In Tjai Cabécar, communities face poverty, structural violence, and intersectional discrimination, with Indigenous girls often excluded from sports, education, and healthcare. Girls deal with early pregnancies, a lack of female coaches, and limited access to rights-based information. Early motherhood and caregiving are often seen as girls’ only life path, and many girls drop out of school.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, GOLEES will implement gender-transformative soccer programs adapted to Indigenous perspectives in the Tjai Cabécar. Programming includes monthly school-based sessions on human rights for girls, complemented by weekend socio-sports training and workshops on topics like body autonomy and healthy relationships. Girls who have previously participated in GOLEES programs will undergo mentorship to develop leadership skills and co-lead future activities. The project also plans four key community events, including tournaments and cultural commemorations.
The project anticipates directly impacting 75 girls and approximately 150 additional community members, including family members, local leaders, teachers, and participants in sports and cultural events. GOLEES seeks to create safe, nurturing, and community-led environments and build networks of mutual support, enabling girls to envision new and diverse possibilities for their futures.
To learn more about GOLEES,, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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