Futballing Girls Literacy Campaign

“You are a product of the environment and people around you, either it breaks you, or it makes you realize what you don't want to become.”  – Moonira Ramathula

Futballing Girls is a literacy campaign aimed at developing grassroots girls’ football teams and clubs that quickly transformed and grew. It is now an organisation dedicated to addressing the different aspects and areas affecting the growth and development of female sports. 

The Futballing Girls literacy campaign is a nationwide campaign that includes all nine provinces across South Africa. The objective of the literacy campaign is to encourage children to read from an early age. They distribute books to ECD centres, children’s centres and primary schools across South Africa. They are using sport as a tool to encourage children to read, while emphasising the importance of education alongside the dream of becoming a professional athlete.

As the Founder and Chairperson of Futballing Girls, I have a deep passion for gender equality, and shining the spotlight on the progressive development of girls and young women through sport.

The first event kicked off on Monday, 24 January 2022 at the Kids For Christ ECD centre in Elispark. 36 books were donated to the Grade-R class to read and enjoy.

The next event took place on Friday, 28 January, where 90 books were donated to the African Blessings Children’s Centre in Bronkhorstspruit for the children to enjoy and learn from.

The events are still ongoing, and I see many more successful and joyful opportunities to come from this inspiring campaign for the young girls.

Written by: Moonira Ramathula, Director, Founder and Chairperson of Futballing Girls