A Call to Action on the Day of the Africa Child: Advancing Gender Equality Through Sport
- Amelie Boleyn
- Jun 16
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 23
On the Day of the Africa Child, Girls in Sport joins others across the continent in affirming the rights of every child to protection, participation, and education. Yet, in many communities in Sierra Leone, these rights remain unequally realised—particularly for girls.
In contexts where poverty, gender-based exclusion, and structural inequality are deeply embedded in daily life, girls face significant obstacles to accessing both education and sport. These barriers are especially acute in hard-to-reach areas, where limited infrastructure and prevailing social norms reinforce disparities in access to opportunity.
Sport is not a luxury—it is a critical enabler of development. Research consistently shows that participation in structured, inclusive sports programming is associated with improved educational outcomes, psychosocial wellbeing, and life skills development. For girls, access to sport is closely linked to improved school attendance, increased self-efficacy, and reduced vulnerability to early marriage and child labour.
At Girls in Sport, we work to ensure that girls aged 5 to 18 have consistent, safe, and meaningful access to sport as a complement to their education. Our approach integrates physical activity with mentorship, skill-building, and safeguarding to support girls’ long-term development and wellbeing.
On this day, we urge policymakers, donors, and development partners to recognise sport as a strategic tool in advancing gender equity and improving outcomes for children in marginalised communities.
Investing in girls’ access to sport is investing in their right to a full and equitable childhood.
