“Empowering Girls Through Sport Project”
A remarkable gathering of 900 female students participated in the “Empowering Girls Through Sport Project” held in Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa on 20 and 21 May. Organized by the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) and supported by Olympic Solidarity, the project aims to provide sports training to girls aged 10-14 who are in secondary education, integrating sports into their lives to enhance their self-confidence, self-esteem, and educational pursuits.
During the event, in addition to receiving sports equipment such as tracksuits, t-shirts, and shoes, the children had the opportunity to meet and participate in sports activities with Eda Erdem, a two-time Olympian, having represented Turkey at London 2012 before serving as the captain of the team at Tokyo 2020. She also holds the position of Chair of the TOC’s Athletes Commission.
Reflecting on the experience, Eda Erdem expressed her delight, stating: “We had two joyful days. The excitement and happiness in the children’s eyes were contagious. The work we do holds immense value as sports greatly contribute to the development of children, who represent the bright future of our nation. This project teaches them the importance of sharing, instills discipline, and empowers and inspires them to become strong individuals in the future. I am confident that they will one day say, ‘I’m glad I engaged in sports in the past.’ They will come to realize that the strong character they have today is a direct result of their involvement in sports.”
Neşe Gündoğan, Secretary General of TOC, emphasized the significance of the project, stating: “We firmly believe that our Project, supported by the Olympic Solidarity, and implemented in 4 schools in Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa, will greatly contribute to the physical and mental development of our girls. By providing them with adequate opportunities, we aim to nurture healthy, self-confident, successful individuals, who may even become future national athletes. Our activities have reemphasised that when girls in this country are given equal opportunities, a more equitable and promising future becomes achievable.”
