The main reason I went to Casablanca was to meet Nicole. She has been living in various cities in Morocco for two and a half years -- first studying abroad, then on a Fulbright and now working for a national sport development organization. She has focused primarily on the grassroots growth of girls'/women's football (read: soccer).I spent the day sponging knowledge from her about all aspects of trying to help cultivate women's sports in a society that traditionally resists females displaying strength, leadership and muscle. We spent hours talking about funding, networking, moving past the challenges, incorporating new media in this effort.
Nicole's work has not been easy. She has had to roll up her sleeves to get grants, organize events, solicit community support to give girls' an opportunity to play. Progress IS being made. Morocco now has a national team and regional leagues. Nicole was able to get funding to take four girls to the United States last summer to attend Julie Foudy's Leadership Camp. Each of the girls received a small sum of money to come back to Morocco to start a girls' sports project herself.
Read Nicole's entry on "Players on a Masculine Stage" at the Global Game blog
Take a look at her brilliant images of women's football in Morocco
*photo above is part of her collection of photos
Grateful and inspired.
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