Cecilia Andrén Nyström traveled to Mozambique just after high school to champion women’s rights by starting up local football teams for young women. She now has over 148 volunteers all across the country teaching over 3000 girls about HIV prevention, education and equal rights for women. She talks about the project, the power of dedication and teaches us what each and every one of us can realy do if we believe in ourself
I don’t think in all my life have I ever met such a selfless and helpful woman as Cecilia. It was my love of Swedish football that led me to her site. I usually write my own words but I think in this case I will let her words do all the talking
“My name is Cecilia Andrén Nyström and I’m 21 years old. I believe that football can change the world, and to see if this could be more than just a theory I went to Mozambique, the fourth poorest country in the world to try it out. I started the project Futebol dá força, which means ‘football gives strength’ in Portuguese. The project aims at strengthening girls’ self-confidence and to provide knowledge that will enable girls to change their future into one they want themselves. The sport becomes a neutral meeting place where the girls get knowledge – and power.
Now, with results in hand, I am even more convinced that football can change the world. In less than a year Futebol dá força has developed from being one single team, which I coached myself, into a nationwide movement linked to the Lurdes Mutola Foundation, the Mozambican Football Federation and the Ministries of Youth & Sport and Education. In Mozambique, I have one fulltime employed local project coordinator, Sara ‘Sarita’ Jacob Simone, and in total we have 171 voluntary coaches all over the country with over 3800 active girls.”
Over the next year or so I am going to promote Cecilia’s work and charity mission the best I can worldwide. She is a pure influence to my own creativity and her strength and desire are a total wake up call to us all.
The blog is located here . Anyone with a love of football should pay it a visit. Amazing work Cecilia!!
