The Transformation That Happens When Girls Finally See Themselves as Athletes
There's a moment that perfectly captures why girls need sports—and why sports need girls. Picture this: It’s the start of the SPORT section of camp, young women holding each other's hands, literally running to the back of every drill line, shrinking from the spotlight of athletic participation. Fast forward 90 mins as we near the end of the session, the same girls begging to go first, demanding multiple penalty kicks even after missing shots, and celebrating teammates with unrestrained joy.
This transformation didn't happen by accident. In Nigerian culture, sports are often viewed as more masculine pursuits, decidedly "non-feminine" activities that families—especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds—see as investments better made in boys than girls. At Camp NexGen™ 2025, we deliberately challenged these assumptions by creating an environment where 60% of our campers were young women, surrounded by female volunteers and coaches who demonstrated that athletic excellence and femininity aren't mutually exclusive.
The breakthrough moments were unmistakable. During penalty kick sessions, watching a girl score her first goal and hearing her teammates erupt in celebration created confidence that radiated far beyond the football pitch. These were that these young women belonged in spaces where they'd previously felt unwelcome.
Our partnership with Bras for Girls addressed a critical barrier that often forces girls to abandon sports as their bodies develop. Knowing they had proper athletic support meant these campers could envision themselves continuing in sports without the physical discomfort or cultural shame that sidelines so many young women. For many, it was the first time anyone had acknowledged that their athletic participation mattered enough to invest in their specific needs.
The intangibles learned on that pitch are impossible to replicate in any classroom. When a teammate missed her penalty kick but watched her team still secure victory, she learned that individual failures don't define collective success. When girls witnessed our volunteer leaders on the losing team celebrate with genuine joy, they absorbed lessons about grace in defeat that will serve them in boardrooms, classrooms, and life's inevitable setbacks.
Perhaps most powerfully, one camper shared her dream of becoming both a footballer and a neurosurgeon—the perfect embodiment of our SPORT x STEAM mission. She understood intuitively what research confirms: the same focus, resilience, and strategic thinking that makes someone a better athlete also makes them a more successful student, professional, and leader.
The confidence we witnessed building over three days represents something much larger than improved dribbling skills. It's about young women discovering their voices, claiming space, and understanding that leadership looks like them. In a continent where women's potential is often constrained by cultural expectations, sports becomes a laboratory for developing the bold, resilient leaders our communities desperately need.
When girls learn to take the penalty kick despite the pressure, to encourage teammates through failure, and to celebrate collective success, they're developing the exact capabilities that will help them break barriers in STEM fields, business, politics, and beyond.
For more information about Camp NexGen™ or to get involved, visit campnexgen.org. To learn more about LGRRG's broader mission, visit lgrrg.org.