Inclusive football for girls in Colombia

YUMBO - Located on the steep slope of a mountain north of Cali, the district of Yumbo consists of small simple houses and endless steps. The school is located in the lower part, and the gym and the small field are the focal points of sports activities for many students. The Inter Campus women's team also trains here every week, and the girls are known for their genuine - and sometimes feisty - temperament. Especially in the past, there was no shortage of tensions and discussions: group dynamics seen in school classrooms emerged during physical activity, which often requires teamwork and collaboration. The Inter Campus training methodology aims to prevent or address and resolve certain collective or individual situations. The background of many girls in the neighborhood, as revealed by analyses in recent years, is very precarious, with significant social and economic vulnerability. The family unit extends to cousins, grandparents and step-siblings. They grow up together but, at the same time, are often left to their own devices at an age where positive role models are needed. The team is thus pivotal for building emotional connections, and the coach becomes the go-to figure to confide in. Football is played, but there's much more to it than that. The project in Colombia is co-financed by the UEFA Foundation for Children.