Islamabad (TDI): The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in close partnership with the Embassy of Netherlands and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), successfully organized a high-impact football clinic for young girls under the theme “Building Bridges Through Sports.”
Ambassador of Netherlands to Pakistan, Henny Fokel de Vries, commended the initiative, saying:
“Sport has the extraordinary ability to unite, empower, and inspire. We are proud to support efforts that strengthen community ties and offer young people a safe and constructive outlet to thrive.”
Held at the Football Factory, the initiative exemplified the power of sports in fostering inclusion, resilience, and peaceful communities particularly among youth. The event brought together over 35 football-playing girls, aged 14–18, from Islamabad Model College for Girls (F-6/2) and Islamabad Model College for Girls (I-10/4).
The clinic aimed to inspire teamwork, leadership, and mutual respect through structured sporting activities serving as a platform for promoting social cohesion and preventing violent extremism (PVE) at the grassroots level.
UNODC Country Representative in Pakistan, Troels Vester, emphasized that UNODC firmly believes when young girls are given meaningful opportunities to participate, to lead, and to shape decisions, they become powerful agents of resilience against radicalization and violence.
The event also featured Kayanat Bokhari, a professional footballer and youth mentor, who engaged directly with participants, sharing her personal journey as an athlete and encouraging the girls to pursue their goals with passion and perseverance.
The Football Clinic was made possible with the collaboration with Football Factory, founded by Faizan Sameer. The clinic included a range of engaging activities such as Freeze Tag with a ball, dribble relays, the Pass & Move Challenge, and small-sided matches.
The day concluded with fun challenges including the Crossbar Challenge and Dribble Maze, followed by a group reflection session where participants shared their experiences of inclusion, discipline, and unity, lessons that extend far beyond the football pitch.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Field Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has ten plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
