Athletics in Support of Women’s Empowerment in the Southern Regions

Athletics: a vehicle for women’s empowerment and upward mobility. This is the approach of the Sport Nature Solidaire Pour Toutes project, an initiative launched by the Lagon Dakhla Association, in partnership with the Phosboucraa Foundation. 

Workshop. Athletics are a unifying driver for women’s empowerment and upward mobility. This is the approach of the Sport Nature Solidaire Pour Toutes project, an initiative launched by the Lagon Dakhla Association in partnership with the Phosboucraa Foundation. Its final phase, held in Guelmim, was successfully completed on November 19. The two-day, three-phase workshop held last October and November helped to empower approximately 60 women from Dakhla, Laayoune, and Guelmim through athletics. The goal is to develop their leadership and communication skills, in addition to educating them on the benefits of athletics and the basics of nutrition. The introductory canoe and mountain bike workshops were followed by others on communication and body coaching. The women learned the value of athletics, citizenship, nutrition, wellbeing, practicing outdoor sports, organizing introductory athletics activities, and training for outdoor sports. The Sahraouiya Series multi-sport training diploma was awarded to all participants. However, the culmination of the event won’t take place until next month when teams will be selected to participate in Sahraouiya 2018, a unique sporting adventure organized by the same association next February.
Athletics: a vehicle for development
According to the Phosboucraa Foundation and the Lagon Dakhla Association, athletics aren’t an end in and of themselves. Their values are what really make it possible to strengthen women’s participation in social, economic, and cultural spheres and to increase their opportunities for better social and economic inclusion. Thanks to their expertise and unique knowledge of the region, they will now further contribute to the emergence and development of artisanry, tourism, and cultural activities, thereby promoting the advancement of new social and solidarity initiatives. Investing in women truly means investing in future generations.