Project uses football to teach leadership, self-esteem and rights to girls in Rio A group of girls from the North and West zones of Rio de Janeiro learn football in a social project that goes beyond the four lines. Pretas em Campo, developed by the NGO Empodera, serves around 130 girls and teenagers from Santa Cruz and Pedra de Guaratiba, in the West Zone, and Ilha do Governador, in the North Zone. In addition to the fundamentals of sport, participants discuss topics such as racism, gender violence, self-esteem, leadership and rights. 🟩g1 Rio is on GloboPop, Globo's new vertical short video app, available for free on your cell phone. In the app, you can follow the g1 Rio stage so you don't miss any details. Download GloboPop. Pretas em Campo serves around 130 girls and teenagers Reproduction/TV Globo According to the NGO's founder, Jane Moura, the project emerged to offer a safe space for girls who face social barriers and prejudice. "Pretas em Campo comes as an answer, a safe place, for them to actually develop their self-esteem and occupy spaces that are not generally occupied by them due to pressure and prejudice. The project connects the practice of football as a tool for empowering these girls", he stated. In classes, football is used as an educational tool. While learning the rules and fundamentals of the game, such as offside, corners or fouls, the students also reflect on social issues that are part of their reality — racism, gender violence, self-esteem and rights. One of the participants says that the activities helped to broaden her vision about the role of women in sport and coexistence with other people. "I learned my place as a woman in sport, and it was really cool. I learned to get along better with people too," she said. Pretas em Campo serves around 130 girls and teenagers Reproduction/TV Globo Football and awareness Former student of the NGO, Kathely Martins, 24 years old, resident of Timbau, in Complexo da Maré, today works as a technician and teacher for the project. She explains how social themes are incorporated into sports exercises. "We take a fundamental like passing and do some driving exercises with the ball. We go to a cone, where there is a small square with information. If I want to talk about discrimination, I will take several discriminatory phrases and put them in that cone", he explained. "They do the driving. Have you reached the cone? Take this information, give the pass and run back. It's the foundation with a theme. Then, they will name things. Is it structural racism? Recreational racism? So we build the themes through the foundation." Free project The complete Pretas em Campo cycle lasts 2 years and is completely free. Participants receive a uniform, snacks, meal vouchers and transportation assistance. Registration always opens at the beginning of the year. Vacancies for the classes of 2026 have already been filled.