11 FACTORS OF SUCCESS TO INCLUDE REFUGEE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS

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Country: Germany

Organisation responsible: German Children and Youth Foundation, DFL Foundation, Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration

Main topic addressed: Participation; Inclusion of refugee girls and women in sports programmes

Type of resource/practice: Awareness-raising, material

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Discipline: Multi-sport

Target group(s): Sports clubs, coaches

Timing: Ongoing

Language: Material is available in German.
The poster is available both in German and English. See links below.

Brief description of the practice: The described material is a poster, that visualises 11 factors of success on how to include refugee girls and women in sports programmes. The target groups of the poster are coaches of sports clubs and other persons (e.g. social workers). The poster was produced by the German children and Youth Foundation within the frame of the "Welcome to Football" programme.

Content and objectives: Our experience shows that lots of people who try to help newly-arrived refugee girls and women lack awareness and sensibility for this specific target group:

Either they are experienced coaches but are not used to working with women and girls, never mind newcomers; or they are social workers lacking experience in the field of sports.
With this poster, we want to address both these target groups to give them an overview of the best practice examples they can rely on before they develop their own inclusive sport offer (football or anything else).
These 11 practical tips can be used both for closed and open groups (with or without membership / registration) and discuss issues such as safe space, binding and commitment, verbal and non-verbal communication, empowerment and involvement of the family members.

Steps/activities of the practice: See poster in the further information section.

Resources required: Willingness to include refugee girls and women in sports / Network in the community with e.g. refugee shelters; social workers etc.

Achievements and outcomes: Approximately 1500 posters have been distributed already. We have received very positive feedback in one-on-one conversations with the people who ordered the poster. They have told us that the poster addresses the right issues, the ones they are confronted with in their work. We also have been told that the 11 key factors of success are also relevant for a wider target group than just female refugees. They also seem to apply to other young women who don’t easily find access to organised sport structures and clubs.
The poster has been requested by German amateur clubs, NGOs and sports association. There seems to be a need for information on the topic. We cannot say anything about long-term effects since the poster was only published in November 2018.

Challenges and limitations: The 11 topics that are tackled on the posters are at the same time challenges and factors of success. If those eleven challenges are met, the inclusion of refugee girls and women in sports will improve.

Follow-up ideas and future plans: The German Children and Youth Foundation will continue to support projects that aim at the inclusion of refugee girls and women in sports.

Further information: 
German version poster: https://www.dkjs.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Bilder/programme/181116_Willkommen_im_Fussball_Poster.pdf
English version poster: https://www.dkjs.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Dokumente/programme/190318_Willkommen_im_Fussball_Poster_english.pdf
There is also a more general poster available called “GIRLS` STRENGTHS: 11 FACTORS OF SUCCESS TO REACH GIRLS AS PARTICIPANTS OF SPORTS ACTIVITIES”. It shows key factors of success to reach girls in general and motivate them to participate in those sports that are usually dominated by boys.

Contact person: Ursula Csejtei, [email protected]