What We Do

Community Action:

We advocate for equality and social justice

To shine a spotlight on social justice issues affecting marginalised women, including refugee advocacy, gender-based violence, and equal rights in sports. We aim to educate, inspire action, and drive policy change.
We work with grassroots organisations, community leaders, and existing networks to find passionate individuals interested in campaigning and spreading knowledge. Partnerships are built with local NGOs, advocacy groups, and international organisations aligned with the UN’s global goals.
- Hosting talks and conferences featuring program graduates in Gender Based campaigns.
- Collaborating with local partners to deliver workshops tied to UN calendar dates.
- Producing Calls to Action documents that contribute to policy conversations.
- Creating charity tournaments focused on gender and human rights issues to raise awareness.
- Deliver workshops led by Girl Power Graduates, spreading awareness on social justice issues.
- Participate in 4 international conferences annually, spotlighting issues of injustice in relation to women and girls in sport.
- Support policy discussion by publishing our own Calls to Action documents to influence policy discussions.
- Through this in 2025 or goal is to reach 10,000 people and grow 10% each year.

Click here to download our 2025-2028 Strategy

Football for Development:

We build safe spaces for inclusion and representation in football

To create inclusive spaces where football is more than a game—it’s a tool for building community, raising awareness of social justice issues, and promoting physical and mental well-being.
We collaborate with local football clubs, schools, NGOs, and community centres to engage women and girls who are marganised. Partnerships are forged with national sports federations, coaching academies, and fitness organisations to ensure the quality and reach of programs.
- Football sessions focused on fun, learning, and fitness.
- Coaching mentorship programs to develop local leaders in sport, increasing the number of marginalised groups in the sport.
- Organising local tournaments that celebrate inclusion and community spirit.
- In 2025, we will host 10 football sessions across our 4 locations, reaching a total of 400 women.
- We support 30 individuals across 4 locations to achieve football coaching qualifications.
- We organise four local tournaments.
- Through football in 2025 we will reach we will reach 2000 people and grow 10% annually.

Leadership Academy:

We empower and educate future leaders

To equip young women with the skills, confidence, and networks to become leaders and changemakers in their communities, inspiring activism and personal growth.
We identify potential participants through our football programmes and community partnerships. These selected individuals then undertake a six-month intensive leadership programme, with the aim of having women go back to their communities and inspire change to take on leadership responsibilities.
- Structured leadership development programs (6 months of transformative & leadership education and 6 months of implementation of the practical skills).
- Mentorship structure to guide young leaders as they build next steps in our pathways system
- Scholarships
- Deliver at least one leadership program per year in every location, with 120 graduates in 2025.
- Award 500 scholarships a to remove financial barriers for education.
- Mentor 45 young leaders to help them thrive and grow.
- In total through leadership development we will reach 11,000 people in 2025, and grow 10% annually.

“As an Afghan woman facing restrictions back home, I deeply understand the struggle of being unable to pursue my passions, whether in education or sports. This experience fuels my determination to raise my voice for women's rights and fight for gender equality. Women deserve recognition for their incredible achievements and should be respected, supported, and celebrated.

It is a privilege to be a women's rights activist and to celebrate this day with my sisters around the world. Together, we can create a future where every woman is empowered to reach her full potential.”

-Narges

Afghanistan Women’s National Team

Campaigning from exile.

The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021 spelt danger for women players in Afghanistan. The Taliban not only made clear its opposition to women playing sport, but they were also opposed to women having any sort of freedom whatsoever.

Following international efforts led by Khalida Popal, in collaboration with lawyers, experts, donors, governments and human rights bodies around the world, over 100 players and family, including the senior team, were evacuated to Melbourne, Australia, and other players ended up in the UK, Germany, Portugal, Italy and the United States.

Girl Power has provided resources and a network to support the players' evacuation, investigation, and resettlement in their new home countries. We have also been supporting advocacy for the recognition of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team.

Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the women of Afghanistan have been subject to a brutal system of Gender Apartheid, in which women are denied the very basic elements of freedom. Many of the evacuated players still have family in Afghanistan, and many of the players combine playing with activism, to bring a voice and attention to their families who remain in Afghanistan.

Girl Power continues to campaign for women’s rights and to get recognition for the team from FIFA.