Our Favorite Player’s Humanitarian Efforts
We all know Socceristas are powerful. And when it comes to championing a cause or bringing an issue to the spotlight, no one does it quite like a soccer player. So check out some of the pro players doing good with their platforms.
Khalida Popal, Girl Power
Popal is an Afghan former soccer player turned big-time activist. During her time on the Afgan Women’s National Team, Popal spoke out about the sexual abuse occurring within the organization.
After an injury-related retirement, Popal turned to the community. She founded Girl Power, which uses soccer and education to empower and unite girls worldwide.
In addition to her own humanitarian brainchild, Popal is an Ambassador for the Street Child World Cup, a youth tournament geared toward combating the poor treatment and perception of street children.
Megan Rapinoe, GLSEN
Can you even have a list of humanitarian efforts by soccer players without including Megan Rapinoe? No, you cannot. Rapinoe has used her platform to speak out against just about every injustice there is to face. The gender pay gap, BLM, queer rights, inclusivity in sports, the list goes on.
She was one of the leading names on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her other ambassadorships and pledges include the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, Common Goal, Athlete Ally, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
And earlier this month, she and her wife, Sue Bird, launched their own production company, A Touch More, to promote diverse stories. Really, she just does it all.
Christen Press, Grassroots Soccer
Press has been an ambassador for Grassroots Soccer for years. Founded in 2002, Grassroots Soccer is out to change the world through the power of soccer.
Using the game to connect kids with mentors and communities in over 60 countries, Grassroots is a global initiative. Grassroots also offers educational resources on health, specifically geared toward diseases that impact impoverished global communities, like Malaria and HIV.
Press has been an active and enthusiastic ambassador of this organization and the wonderful work that they do.
Vivianne Miedema, War Child
This Dutch player of Arsenal and the Netherlands National Team was one of many to answer the call of Common Goal. Common Goal is a movement that challenged pro players and coaches to pledge part of their salary to a collective of soccer charities around the world. Miedema chose to pledge 1% of her salary to youth-focused community organizations.
“Inspired by my mom and former tennis player Andre Agassi, I’ve always wanted to support a good cause. With War Child, I can make a difference in children’s lives. And as top athletes, we can have a lot of impact” said our ambassador @VivianneMiedema pic.twitter.com/vnFAam615t
— War Child Holland (@WarChildHolland) June 1, 2022
Along with Common Goal, Miedema also works with War Child. This organization is dedicated to supporting children in war-torn parts of the world and helping them overcome that trauma for a brighter future.
Manuela Acosta, SOMOS Equidad
Another Common Goal pledge taker, Colombian national player Acosta is one of the main inspirations for SOMOS Equidad, Global Goal 5 Accelerator’s Latin American chapter. Global Goal 5 Accelerator and SOMOS Equidad work toward gender equality on and off the pitch.
Their goal is to reach the youths of Latin America through soccer while simultaneously deconstructing the systemic tools of gender inequality. This new initiative, in partnership with Common Goal and Women Win, would not have been possible without players like Acosta.
View this post on Instagram
Madison Hammond, Athlete Ally
Angel City’s Hammond is a proud Athlete Ally. Athlete Ally is an organization determined to make sports, not just soccer, accessible and safe for all.
Organizations like Athlete Ally and ambassadors like Hammond are more important than ever, with anti-trans rhetoric filling school athletics across the country. The mission of Athlete Ally is to promote equity and tolerance to end homophobia and transphobia, and the ambassadors lead by example.
This #IndigenousPeoplesDay and every day, we celebrate the game-changing Indigenous athletes who are pushing sport forward, including Athlete Ally Ambassador and @weareangelcity player Madison Hammond (@gohaamm). [📸 @iampetemartin] pic.twitter.com/9THPmc1wKm
— Athlete Ally (@AthleteAlly) October 10, 2022
In addition to allyship for the queer community, Hammond speaks up for the BIPOC communities and isn’t afraid to call out problematic behavior when she sees it. Hammond is the only Native American player in the NSWL currently, being of Dinè and Pueblo descent, and aims to inspire the next generation of Native American soccer players.
Imani Dorsey, United for Girls
Dorsey, a fresh face for the USWNT and 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year, reps for United for Girls.
An initiative under the U.S. Soccer Foundation umbrella, United for Girls, concentrates on getting girls from underserved communities resources to become leaders on and off the pitch. In addition, United for Girls aims to get girls involved in soccer to improve confidence and body-positive image and increase the number of positive female role models at the mentor and coach level.
View this post on Instagram
Dorsey believes in the power of soccer and knows the value of United for Girls’ mission. “As a child, I was fortunate enough to have an excellent female coach and role model throughout my youth soccer career. I did not realize it at the time, but I gained a strong sense of identity, community, and empowerment playing with and for women. I am honored to be a United for Girls champion and to continue working with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to uplift and empower as many girls as possible.” -Imani Dorsey.
Featured image via Madison Hammond on Instagram
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
