YMCA of Greater Toronto teams up with FC Barcelona Foundation to increase the involvement of newcomer and equity-deserving girls in sports

YMCA GameChangers aims to increase opportunities for social inclusion and employment to 220 equity-deserving girls through soccer and sport leadership training 

Toronto – October 30, 2024 – Today, the YMCA of Greater Toronto announced a new and innovative program to increase participation of newcomer and equity-deserving girls in soccer by 50% by the end of the next year. YMCA GameChangers powered by FC Barcelona Foundation will offer free soccer instruction, matches and sport leadership training across the Greater Toronto Area. The program will embrace SportNet – a sport-based methodology for social intervention developed by the FC Barcelona Foundation.

Research shows there is a relationship between girls’ participation in sport and their success as leaders. But sports participation continues to decrease with girls in Canada due to representation in leadership roles in sports, unsafe environments and limited opportunities for participants. At the Y alone, only three in 10 participants in sports are girls (ages 6-9), with that number decreasing to two in 10 by the age of 13. 

YMCA GameChangers aims to increase opportunities for social inclusion and employment in sports by delivering a free soccer and sport leadership program to 220 equity-deserving girls. Over the next year, YMCA GameChangers will offer free sport leadership sessions, soccer instruction and matches, integrating community services and job-readiness with the international love of soccer. 

“Sports equity is extremely important to us at the Y, and as the first woman President & CEO at the YMCA of Greater Toronto, it’s a cause I’m especially passionate about,” said Lesley Davidson, YMCA of Greater Toronto. “Over the years, I’ve seen incredible progress towards gender equity, and YMCA GameChangers will help overcome obstacles we’ve all faced starting at a young age. I see this as an incredible program to help empower girls and show them the endless opportunities available in their career, friendships and beyond.”

“At Barça Foundation we are very proud to give support to YMCA in this project that I am convinced will have a great impact, to improve the lives of children and young people who find themselves in vulnerable contexts,said Dr. Marta Segú, Executive Director FC Barcelona Foundation. “It seeks to promote effort, respect, teamwork, humility and ambition, understood from the culture of cooperation so that they are positive on an individual and collective level”. 

FC Barcelona Foundation’s SportNet program is supported in Canada by Scotiabank through ScotiaRISE, the Bank’s social impact strategy that has a focus on enabling greater inclusion and resiliency by funding programs that help newcomers to overcome barriers and access more opportunities. Both entities are already working together in Mexico, Chile and Peru.  

YMCA GameChangers – Soccer & Leadership for Girls’ Futures, will service participants in four regions of the Greater Toronto Area, including York Region, Peel Region, Toronto Region and Durham Region. If you are interested in learning more, please visit ymcagta.org/GameChangers.

 About the YMCA of Greater Toronto  

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead and give back to their communities. For 170 years, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has provided opportunities for people through a variety of programs and services including health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families and seniors. Promoting equity and boosting well-being across more than 500 locations in the Greater Toronto Area, the Y is a leading charity that helps everyone shine. It also operates a number of national youth programs. For more information, visit ymcagta.org.

About FC Barcelona Foundation 

The mission of the Barcelona Football Club Foundation is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable girls, boys and young people through education, health and sport as essential tools to contribute to social inclusion and equity, with a special focus on gender equality and diversity in all its forms. Based on a new holistic approach to action, the Foundation works in three lines of work: education and protection, community action and health and emotional well-being through its own programs and methodologies.

About ScotiaRISE

ScotiaRISE is Scotiabank's 10-year, $500 million commitment and social impact strategy aimed at improving high school and post-secondary participation and removing career barriers. ScotiaRISE also invests in programs that address newcomer economic inclusion, Indigenous culture and language reclamation, and urgent and basic needs, such as improving access to basic supports like food and water, shelter and medical care. Since program inception in 2021, ScotiaRISE has invested $102 million in funding globally for 200 organizations, helping individuals and disadvantaged groups at 1.6 million critical moments in time^[i]