Through Her Eyes

Over the course of 18 months, 22 women and girls from 11 Laureus-supported programmes used analogue cameras – provided by Goal Click – to document their first-hand experiences doing what they love. 

From scoring goals on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to catching Indian Ocean waves in Durban, South Africa, participants in the Through Her Eyes series have produced inspirational, unfiltered content – demonstrating the power sport has to transform the lives of individuals and their communities.

The Through Her Eyes series highlights Laureus Sport for Good’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shines a spotlight on the social focus areas of Women and Girls and an Inclusive Society. 

Laureus Sport for Good currently supports more than 260 programmes in over 45 countries, using sport as a tool to break down social barriers and help almost six million young people overcome violence, discrimination and inequality in their lives. 

In Kilifi, Kenya, one organisation is harnessing the global appeal of football to open doors for girls and young women.

Through the lens of the beautiful game, Moving the Goalposts have set up several programmes designed to enable participants to acquire scholarships, equip themselves with information on reproductive health and rights, and develop skills to support financial independence. 

The young people at the heart of this initiative captured stunning images depicting their experiences. One beautiful photograph perfectly encapsulates the importance of young people supporting one another in difficult moments – It shows one young girl wrapping a bandage around the leg of another, at the side of the pitch; another captures several of the group’s participants in relaxed mode as they leave the field after a session, with one carrying a large container of water on their head.  

Nelly, one of the group’s participants, revealed that the impact of this project is felt far beyond the white lines of the football pitch.

She said: “Football plays a big role in our community – it gives us players a sense of belonging. People are mobilised through football and educated on different topics.”

The team at Moving the Goalposts believe that the essentials required to deliver success on the field, such as teamwork and fair play, can be applied to all aspects of daily life to help foster attitudes that promote integrity, responsibility and transparency.

Those involved with the Rugby for Good project in Hong Kong share in that same belief, but their vision is focused on the rugby field rather than the football pitch.

Both participants in the Goal Click project are deaf and one powerful image shows the children in a celebratory huddle, conveying a message of togetherness and inclusivity. 

“We love rugby, and when we play as a team, we really enjoy it and never give up,” said Yuki, one of the participants. “Rugby For Good has helped us to promote more deaf sports to the deaf community. Playing rugby has helped me to become a better person and reach a stronger physical fitness level.”

Via Through Our Eyes, Laureus continues to showcase the transformative power of sport as a force for good, providing more opportunities for women and girls – and all those in pursuit of creating a more inclusive society – to play an active role in driving change.