December 28, 2024, Kanchanpur – The friendly football match was organized on December 28, 2024 jointly by Saathi, Kanchanpur District Football Association, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), supported by AEIN Luxembourg under Generating Ownership Awareness & Liberation program with the theme of zero tolerance towards GBV against women and girls. Players’ jerseys had the inscription: “Our Collective Goal: Ending Violence Against Women and Children.”
Ms. Bandana Rana, member of the CEDAW Committee and chief guest, jointly inaugurated the tournament amidst other guests of honor that included President of Kanchanpur District Football Association Mr. Ganesh Bahadur Chand, Country Director of AEIN Mr. Ramesh Twayana, and President of Saathi Ms. Sajani Amatya.
The President of Saathi, Ms. Amatya said, “Collective efforts are needed to make sure that creative and positive changes in society uproot discrimination and violence against women.” She said playing football together spreads the message of coexistence between both males and females. Former President of Saathi, Ms. Bandana Rana called for extending the message of gender equality from the football field to homes and communities. She appreciated the commitment and solidarity of the players to the campaign for the eradication of GBV.
This football tournament was not only a game, but part of the bigger campaign that Saathi is doing on GBV. Saathi uses sport-a common language-for fostering unity, equality, and mutual respect, and takes collective action to stop gender-based violence. Since 2011, Saathi has partnered with ANFA in using football as a platform to raise awareness about GBV and promote gender equality.
Each winning team participating in the tournament was awarded NRs. 15,000 and the runner-up teams received NRs. 10,000 with trophies and certificates. Also, awareness-raising flyers were distributed in the course of the program for further dissemination of the message of the campaign.
