The NGO Tibu Africa, dedicated to fostering education and youth integration through sports, is organizing the third National Forum on the Empowerment of Girls and Women through Sports. This event is taking place at the Second Chance School – New Generation, which specializes in sports professions, located in the Old Medina of Casablanca. It coincides with National Women's Day on October 10 and the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, aiming to highlight «sports as a catalyst for empowerment, socio-economic inclusion, and leadership», according to a press release. Supported by UNESCO, the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports (MENPS), and the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), the forum gathers over 300 young women from Tibu Africa's programs, as well as women leaders, elite athletes, and various institutions. Mohamed Amine Zariat, an Ashoka Fellow and the president-founder of Tibu Africa, emphasizes that «investing in a girl is investing in the future of a nation». He remarked, «Through sports, we have empowered thousands of young girls with our programs focused on education, socio-economic inclusion, and entrepreneurship. Our graduates have gone on to launch their own businesses, become coaches in their communities, and drive transformation in their neighborhoods». Hayat, a former participant in a football-based educational program, shares her personal journey, noting that sports transformed her life. «I discovered the confidence, strength, and voice I once lacked. Today, I am pursuing my dream career and living my passion», she reveals. In conjunction with the forum, a hackathon is being held with the involvement of physical education and sports teachers. The objective is to «develop innovative educational and social solutions to overcome the barriers to girls' participation in sports within the school environment», as explained by the organizers.
