b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political ForumBeyond Football: Keeping Girls in School, IndiaByworkingtoexpandtheopportunitieschildren can have a significant impact on their life available to girls, Beyond Football contributesoutcomes,programmeslikeBeyondFootballare to SDG4 on education, SDG5 on gender equality,able to provide encouragement and ambition when SDG10 on reduced inequalities, and SDG17 onthat is not given by others who play a major role in partnerships for sustainable development.the girls lives. Through the programmes activities andcurriculum,thegirlsareabletobecome Foryears,womensandgirlsaccesstoandindependent, combat harmful social practices and enrolmentinhighqualityeducationhasbeenlead an empowered, dignified life. known to be a pivotal tool to address child, early and forcemarriage,humantrafficking,economicImmediately,girlswhoparticipateinthe inequality,healthchallengesandgender-basedprogramme benefit from: increased confidence and violence.Yet,therearemanybarrierstogirlslifeskilldevelopment;equitableaccessto completingeducation,with63.5%ofvillagegirlsopportunitiesincludingeducationalopportunities leaving education during adolescence. Almost 27%whichareoftenhardertoaccessforindigenous of girls are married before the age of 18, meaninggirls;digitallearningtofindoutmoreaboutthe they experience child or early marriage, and 70% ofwider world; decreased risks of leaving education; girls experience different forms of abuse.improvements in overall health; and, support girls to become professional athletes if they choose.The Beyond Football programme, which Soroptimist International supports in collaboration with ShreejaIn the longer term, Shreeja Indias Beyond Football India,combinessportsandeducationtodevelopprogramme,withthesupportoftheRoadto key personal and life skills. 200 indigenous girls agedEquality Appeal, will have four core pathways for 10to18,inthePurbaBurdwandistrictofWestgirls who participate. For girls who want and have Bengalhavebenefitedfromtheprogrammethe skills to play football professionally, they will be through intense sports coaching and enriched out- supported to access more training either in India or of-schooleducation.Crucially,theprogrammeabroad,tosupporttheirjourneytobecominga provides the support to girls education that may beprofessional footballer. For girls wishing to pursue lackingfromfamilies,teachersandtheirmore academic careers, they will be supported in communities.Thegirlswhoparticipateinthepursuing higher education or professional courses. programmehavebeensignificantlylimitedandEqually, girls who show a passion for a vocation will have been denied reaching their fully potential duebe supported in improving those vocational skills so to their social status. This status significantly limitsthat they can secure a stable income of their own. what options the girls think are available to themLastly,forparticipantswhoshowinterestsin andthisputsthematincreasedriskofchildmultiple areas, the programme aims to foster those marriage, abuse and trafficking. With there beingmultipleinterestsultimatelyallowingthegirlto increasingevidencethatexpectationsplacedonmake her own empowered choice.'