Street Kids in Accra Score for Success

The Well Girls Project, a partnership between the Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF) and Junior Football Camp Ghana (JFC), continued to provide a safe and empowering environment where girls from underserved communities in Jamestown, Accra, develop football skills alongside essential life skills.

Training sessions were held every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., initially at Ghana Gas Park and later at Asyld Academy when renovations temporarily affected the original venue. The programme combined structured football coaching with mentorship, leadership development, and personal growth activities, helping participants build confidence, discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

Throughout the quarter, the girls demonstrated consistent commitment despite school and family responsibilities. The project continued to strengthen their physical wellbeing while creating opportunities for learning, friendship, and positive social interaction.

Activities Implemented (April – June)

During the reporting period, the project successfully carried out the following activities:

• Weekly football training sessions focusing on passing, ball control, positioning, shooting, defending, teamwork, and leadership.
• Mentorship sessions designed to strengthen confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and goal setting.
• Provision of transportation from Jamestown to the training venue every Saturday.
• Distribution of football jerseys, boots, and refreshments to ensure girls could participate comfortably.
• Continuous attendance monitoring and individual support for participants.

June Highlights

June was particularly exciting for the Well Girls.

The girls participated in a friendly football match against the Well Girls team from Sakumono at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel School pitch. Although the match lasted only 20 minutes due to limited time, the girls displayed excellent teamwork, determination, and confidence, securing an impressive 2–1 victory.

The match provided an opportunity for the girls to put into practice the football skills they had developed over the previous months while also building sportsmanship and confidence through healthy competition.

Following the match, the girls participated in a mentorship session, focusing on identity, confidence, and purpose. The session encouraged the girls to recognise their individual strengths, appreciate their value, and develop a positive vision for their future. The discussions generated meaningful reflections and increased the girls' confidence to express themselves both on and off the football field.

Although photographs and videos of the goals were unfortunately not captured due to the intensity of supporting the team during the match, the event was a memorable milestone for the participants and has increased excitement for future friendly matches.

Key Outcomes

Over the three-month period, the project recorded several encouraging outcomes:

• Improved football techniques, coordination, and tactical understanding.
• Increased confidence and willingness to participate during training and mentorship sessions.
• Stronger teamwork, communication, and leadership among participants.
• Consistent attendance and commitment despite personal and family challenges.
• Greater understanding of identity, self-worth, and personal purpose following the June mentorship session.
• Increased motivation among participants through competitive match experience.

Lessons Learned

Several important lessons emerged during the quarter:

• Combining sport with mentorship creates a stronger and more holistic approach to girls' empowerment than football training alone.
• Friendly matches significantly boost motivation, confidence, and teamwork while giving participants practical opportunities to apply newly acquired skills.
• Positive female role models and mentors help girls build self-confidence and encourage them to pursue their personal goals.
• Providing reliable transportation and football equipment continues to remove barriers to participation and supports regular attendance.
• Flexibility in changing training venues ensured continuity of activities despite renovations at the original facility.

Looking Ahead

In the coming quarter, the project aims to:

• Organise additional friendly matches with partner teams.
• Continue weekly football training and life skills sessions.
• Expand mentorship opportunities by inviting more female professionals and role models.
• Strengthen participant retention and encourage consistent attendance.
• Continue using football as a platform for empowering girls to become confident leaders within their families and communities.

Conclusion

The April–June quarter demonstrated the growing impact of the Well Girls Project. Through regular football training, mentorship, and opportunities such as the successful friendly match against Sakumono, the girls have continued to grow in confidence, discipline, teamwork, and leadership.

The partnership between SCEF and Junior Football Camp Ghana remains committed to creating opportunities for girls from underserved communities to thrive both on and off the football field. With continued support from GlobalGiving and our partners, the project is well positioned to expand its impact and help even more girls realise their full potential.