VISITING ZAMBIA TO MARK FRIDOLINA ROLFÖ BECOMING GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR PLAN INTERNATIONAL
Shining a spotlight on gender equality issues and raising awareness about the charity’s work to improve girls' rights
Sienna Fletcher, Commercial & Talent Account Manager
Izla Bethdavid - Plan International Sweden
Last week, I had the unique opportunity to travel with FC Barcelona and Sweden footballer, Fridolina Rolfö, to Zambia after it was announced that she had been named as the new goodwill ambassador for children’s charity, Plan International in Sweden.
Having worked personally with Fridolina to build her personal brand around her aspirations for a more equal world for the next generation of girls, connecting Fridolina with Plan International was a perfect match. The charity aims to create change for children and especially, girls across the world and to mark the new partnership, Plan invited Fridolina to Zambia to raise awareness of the gender equality issues in the country and shine a spotlight on the charity's ongoing work to improve girls' rights.
As this is a topic that Fridolina is strongly passionate about, it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. Following an outstanding season of winning four titles with Barcelona, she was keen for another adventure during the gap in her schedule, before she returns to national team camp this week.
Izla Bethdavid - Plan International Sweden
Arriving in Africa
The trip officially began after a security and safeguarding briefing ahead of our first leg to Ethiopia, where we met the wider team from Plan Sweden. When we eventually arrived in Lusaka, we were greeted by the Swedish Embassy. Sweden supports several initiatives aimed at promoting the rights of girls and young women in Zambia in collaboration with Plan International. This includes projects to keep girls in school, increase access to sexual and reproductive health rights information and services, preventing and responding to gender-based violence, ending child marriage and helping young women to achieve their full potential.
We woke bright and early on our first day to begin our field visit to the Chamuka Community to meet the Chief, and learn about the impacts of him working with the charity to tackle the issues of child marriage, child pregnancies and access to education in his village. More than one in four girls are forced to marry before she turns 18 and take care of a family, instead of going to school (Plan International, 2024). Plan aims to work with key stakeholders in the community to evoke change and the local ‘one-stop centre’ was evidence to where this is taking place. Fridolina interviewed a midwife about how she assists young girls in the area and what life-changing support and resources are offered to the community.
Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to learn about the incredible work carried out by a number of organisations that are saving the lives of children and women every day. We were emotionally moved when meeting girls that had been subjected to violence, trafficking and homelessness, and who have now been offered not only a safe haven but a vision of hope - teaching those that couldn’t go home vital life skills and ways to forge a new life for themselves by investing in their futures.
We visited an emergency distribution point where the government had issued food for the vulnerable in a food insecure area. The country is suffering from the worst drought in 25 years which has left communities unable to grow, or sell produce to survive. Here we witnessed the good of the country sharing out what little they have to their population - rations of a sack of maize and cooking oil - which would last them the next 3 months. The mothers looking after their families we spoke with were so kind, despite having little to share but their experiences.
Izla Bethdavid - Plan International Sweden
The power of education and football
On our second day, Fridolina was introduced to Natasha, a keen footballer who plays alongside her teammates at the local school. We sat in a number of her classes and Fridolina had the opportunity to share with the girls what they can achieve if they believe they can…
“If a girl can play football, just like a boy can, she can also go to school, work and strive to achieve more. She can even become president.”
Izla Bethdavid - Plan International Sweden
The corresponding values between Fridolina and the charity were prevalent as we discussed what more needs to be done to create spaces for female footballers at schools, including how sport can be a means for girls to develop important skills such as self-confidence and support. Following this, Fridolina got involved in a football match with the girl’s teams at the school where their faces lit up as they played against one of the best in the world.
That afternoon, we travelled to one of the top schools in the area where students were learning hydroponics in the ground’s gardens, as a result of the partnership with Plan International. The investment in greenhouses allowed for the teachings of life skills needed to sustain themselves, including growing crops in irrigated systems. This means that the students can go on to be the best cultivators in the country and establish a successful future for themselves.
On the final day of the working week, Fridolina was introduced to the Young YAZA queens, a local girls' football team based in Kalingalinga. She spoke to them about female empowerment both on and off the field before leading a training session. Following this, we were offered the exciting chance to meet and watch the Copper Queens train as they prepared for the Olympics in Paris at Nkoloma Stadium - Fridolina was able to extend her best wishes to the Zambian team.
Once we reached the weekend, downtime included a safari drive, immersing ourselves in the culture at the village craft market, dinner with the Swedish Embassy hosts and of course, heading to the local sports bar to watch England beat Slovenia in the EUROs! Not only was this an incredible opportunity to bond with and better understand a Ten Toes client, but also to create purpose-driven content with meaning. Beyond this however, it was an unforgettable experience to meet some remarkable and selfless people who are dedicated to improving the lives of girls on the other side of the world. We returned home having been educated and motivated to continue to use Fridolina’s platform for positive change in the best way we can.
Izla Bethdavid - Plan International Sweden
Lasting legacy
Fridolina is one of the best advocates for change that I know, having earlier in the year created her own fundraiser alongside the charity, donating prizes such as tournament-winning football boots and jerseys from teammates in order to raise money for the Plan International disaster relief fund. This fundraiser came to an end following the trip to Zambia, and she was able to raise over twenty thousand pounds for refugee children who are suffering from conflict and hunger.
I can’t thank Plan International enough for the special trip - it will leave a lasting impression on me and I’m eager to do more together with our clients and continue to push for a more equal world. I feel honoured every time I’m able to carry out meaningful work and want to extend a huge thank you to Ten Toes for the amazing opportunity!