Rugby para Igualdade programme aims to engage boys and girls in activities to foment dialogues with their peers and families on agendas such as gender equality, diversity and inclusion. The programme uses rugby to attract participants and encourage them to share a safe space, where boys and girls can play sports together and can share ideas, learning and social skills along the year.
The programme engages around 300 (165 boys and 135 girls) children and young people between 7 to 18 years old in 12 months. The programme also aims to reach around 600 people from the local communities including parents and families from the participants.
The main objectives of the programme are 1) to increase the participation and retention of girls practising sports, 2) enhance the importance of respect between boys and girls during and beyond practising sport and 3) foment leadership skills in girls participants of the programme.
Some of the activities offered by the programme are:
- Rugby sessions: mix gender play together divided into age groups in four divisions: M7 (under 7), M9 (9 years), M11 (11 years old), M13 (13 years old) and M18 (up to 18 years old). There are rugby sessions once a week, alternating with social skills sessions or other activities developed by the organisation.
- Professional training: to provide further support and capacity building to coaches and teachers around themes such as gender equality. These training will generate content and definition of strategies to the teams, so they would feel more skilled when delivering activities to their target audience.
- Webinars and Forums: As a way of broadening the discussion and stimulating dialogue on the themes mentioned above, webinars/seminars are also offered for the local communities’ residents and families of the participants.
- Group integration: peer-learning and exchange with other organisations. Exchanges visits among institutions to exchange experiences between students.
- Festivals: events and sports festivals with a specific themes only for girls.
- Matches and tournaments: strengthen sports practice and social skills. Teams from the project will participate in several matches, tournaments or friendlies.
