Our History
In 2014…
Girl Power emerged as a movement dedicated to women, initiated, and led by women, utilizing sports for developmental purposes. It began as a networking and advocacy platform driven by a group of refugee women under the leadership of Khalida Popal who fled from Afghanistan.
In 2016…
Girl Power officially registered as a non-profit association, offering sports and leadership educational opportunities to women and girls in marginalized communities in Denmark.
In 2017…
Girl Power expanded its activities to Germany and Greece, forging collaborations with schools, NGOs, refugee centers, and local communities. The organization continued to grow in 2018, extending its reach to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkey. This expansion involved providing leadership and sports programs in rural areas where women and girls faced limited opportunities and access to equipment and sports activities. Collaborating with schoolteachers and social workers, Girl Power aimed to develop their skills for positive social impact.
In 2019…
Girl Power further expanded its reach to Jordan, as well as new cities in Pakistan and Afghanistan, promoting sports and a healthy lifestyle among more girls and women. The programs successfully encouraged many to join structured sports clubs and pursue careers in sports.
In 2020…
Girl Power initiated cross-European collaborations through joint sports development and inclusion programs supported by ErasmusPlus European Commission funding.
In 2021…
Girl Power played an active role in advocating for Afghan women footballers in the aftermath of the country's fall. The organization successfully lobbied for the evacuation of over 300 women and girls to Australia, Canada, the EU, and the UK. Since then, Girl Power has been extensively involved in providing networking, sporting, educational, and mentoring opportunities for young women, collaborating with refugee councils, NGOs, local governments, football clubs, and human rights organizations.
In August 2021, our organization launched a campaign to evacuate Afghan women footballers from Afghanistan due to political changes and concerns for their safety and security. In collaboration with individuals and organizations worldwide, we successfully evacuated and resettled over 600 women and girls in the EUz, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Since then, through our mentoring, resources and network, we have been actively supporting their resettlement and integration into their new home countries.
Girl Power's Leadership Residential Academies have been a resounding success, reaching 250 young leaders in Denmark, 50 in Germany, 35 in Greece, and 65 in the UK.
In 2022…
Girl Power initiated a two-year collaboration with the Barca Foundation in Denmark and Germany, focusing on developing weekly sports activities and delivering a "train the trainer" program for young refugee women leaders. The organization also expanded its activities in the UK, emphasizing sport for the inclusion of refugee women and girls, establishing collaborations with local schools, club foundations, NGOs, and communities.
In 2023…
Girl Power joined the UNHCR Sport for Refugee Pledge (GRF) and actively contributed to the development and delivery of the sports pledge. Additionally, the organization collaborated with UNGEI, a UN initiative promoting gender equality through education. Since 2021, over 30 refugee women have received training in storytelling and public speaking, with more than 10 young refugee women finding opportunities through the Girl Power network to share their stories and advocacy at conferences and events on local and international levels. Girl Power also expanded its sports activities in local communities and refugee camps in Denmark.
In 2024…
We reached over 20,000+ people globally through our advocacy campaigns, public speaking, webinars, and social media. Approximately 8,000 individuals were directly impacted through various programs and initiative.
We hosted a seven-day summer camp with 20 refugee women from the UK, Denmark, and Switzerland. Additionally we expanded our collaborations with the Malala Foundation, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Sport Rights Alliance in our advocacy campaign for the recognition of the Afghanistan women’s national team in exile.
We lead our first Girl Power activities in Mexico City and Nigeria, where we reached over 1,500 young women and girls through our leadership program and football tournament.