The original project – “Campeonas: Wearing the Shirt for Gender Equality in Football” – was launched in Paraguay in 2023. Following its initial success, the programme was then expanded to Argentina and Chile in 2024, thanks to a collective effort from the IOC, Fundación SES and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).
It provides life skills training for young and adolescent girls in football clubs, focusing on leadership, gender equality, digital literacy and employability preparation.
From one country to three
Campeonas 2.4, as it is now known, has so far reached more than 400 girls across the three countries and, in addition to increasing their participation in football, offers education on a wide range of topics such as gender equality in indigenous communities and rural areas.
The training sessions cover three important areas, aiming to foster the development of young female athletes. Participants are given information and tools to manage their health, including guidance on sexual and reproductive rights for girls and adolescents.
A second module addresses the digital divide, focusing on apps, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology applied in the workplace. Thirdly, vocational guidance and employability sessions teach girls how to create their own CV and develop basic entrepreneurial skills.
Active participation is encouraged, with the girls invited to take on a leading role whether delivering presentations, taking part in campaigns or leading community talks.
“We talk a lot about our rights, about gender equality, about ourselves,” explains 14-year-old Biance Aime from Argentina. “I’ve been playing football since I was four years old. Now I feel more confident in myself and my potential. I would tell other girls to take part in Campeonas, because it changes your way of seeing and thinking.”
