Move Her!

Context

In South Africa, 2 in 5 women is diagnosed with diseases associated with their lifestyles. According to the organisation ActivateHer, a few recent study carried out in the targeted localities reveal that at the age of 6, 20% of the girls are already considered as obese. Girls and women’s health in South Africa has rapidly resulted in a crisis. Beside a worsening physical health, they also face gender discrimination and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. Indeed, 1 in 5 women is suffering from sex-based violence, 1 in 3 gets pregnant before they are 20 and women are twice as often likely to be infected by HIV as men.

The MoveHer Project is for sharing knowledge, stimulating learning and promoting empowerment so as to enable the girls to grow feeling healthy, capable and confident in the society. The initiative is aimed at girls aged 3 to 14 and is based mainly on yoga, gymnastics, song and dance. It allows girls to explore their potential through the development of their motor skills, strength and coordination.

Goals

• Promote the physical, mental and sexual health of the girls at an early age
• Support and assisting any vulnerable young girls during the process of empowerment
• Give young girls opportunities of becoming agents of change within their communities and of realising their potential at an early age thanks to sport
• Enable the girls in such a way that they can debunk any gender-based discrimination, any educational gaps and other social challenges they may be facing

Activities

• The “PreschoolMovement” Programme made for infants (3-to 6-year-old) and focuses on body awareness using gymnastics and yoga
• The “PrimarySchool Activation” Programme centred on sport (cricket, dancing, netball, soccer and yoga) oriented towards girls aged 7 to 14
• The “High SchoolPlayHer” Programme which engages in various sports to teach functional fitness, develop daily life skills and build a routine of health and well-being       

Impact

• Mobilising young girls aged 3 to 14 in vulnerable communities
• 173 girls have already participated in the programmes, most of whom took part in the three years of Implementation
• Recruiting and training supervisors, mostly women from Khayelitsha

Photo credit: Activate Her