Breaking Barriers Through Sport: Anis’s Story
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"I aim to break barriers in our community that limit girls from becoming leaders and inspire others with my powerful leadership skills.”
17-year-old Anis, from Bangkok, Thailand, stands out as a shining example of what is possible when young women are empowered to lead through the power of sport and play.
Through her involvement in our Side By Side programme in Thailand, where we’ve been working in partnership with the Liverpool Football Club (LFC) Foundation since 2020, Anis has taken on a leading role as a youth leader to inspire children the Haroon community.
Anis's role has helped her to participate in camping and sports events for other young people, using her leadership skills to make a difference. Whether leading groups of children, or planning team sports and activities, Anis aims to lead by example and encourage children in her community to step out of their comfort zones and take part.
“Not only me, but Right To Play has greatly empowered our community by encouraging children to participate in a variety of activities such as sports and play. It inspires them to break free from the confines of screens and mobile games and engage in more shared play," she said.
“Right To Play has greatly empowered our community by encouraging children to participate in a variety of activities such as sports and play...".
One of Anis's proudest moments was hosting her first community sports event. Since joining the programme, her confidence and leadership skills have soared. She’s now determined to use her passion for football and her positive attitude to inspire others, and forge stronger bonds between local children and families.
“I firmly believe that the Side By Side programme has empowered individuals to lead with conviction and create a lasting impact within our community,” Anis explains. “This initiative bridges the gaps between individuals who have previously remained strangers, fostering stronger relationships within our community.”
Side by Side in Thailand
Right To Play and the LFC Foundation have been working Side by Side In Thailand since 2020 to support disadvantaged children in urban Bangkok.
Working with DKSH, a leading market expansion services provider, Right To Play and LFC Foundation have rehabilitated spaces across different communities in Bangkok to provide safe and accessible areas for young people to play and learn.
As we transition our programmatic expertise to local partners in Thailand, we extend a heartfelt 'thank you' to our dedicated partners, LFC Foundation and DKSH, for their unwavering support in our mission to make a positive impact.
Together, we’ve renovated four community play spaces and provided sport and play sessions for more than 2,300 children and young people, empowering them with crucial life skills like leadership, self-confidence, communication and resilience.
We’ve also trained more than 110 youth leaders to lead sports and play sessions for their peers, and our work has been recognised at the highest level by the Football Association of Thailand, receiving the ‘Grassroots Award’ in 2022.
Right To Play is pleased to be able to continue to work in partnership with LFC Foundation, supporting some of the most vulnerable children and communities in Tanzania and Senegal and expanding our partnership into other countries of high need around the world. Together, we're achieving incredible transformations in communities worldwide.
