From Big Dreams to Big Stages: The Power of Give to Gain

Across the Right to Dream community, girls and women are reaching remarkable stages in their journeys.

Some are competing under the lights of European football stadiums, others are studying at Ivy League universities, representing their countries on the international stage, or stepping into leadership roles within their communities.

Yet none of their journeys began on those stages.

They began much earlier, with young girls who had big dreams and with people around them who believed in those dreams enough to help them grow.

A coach who invested time in developing their potential. A mentor who opened a door to a new opportunity. A teacher who encouraged them to pursue education alongside their athletic ambitions. A teammate who offered support when the path felt difficult. These moments of belief and encouragement may seem small on their own, but together they shape the foundation of a journey.

Across the Right to Dream community, from Ghana to Egypt to Denmark, and through our academies and professional clubs, we see the long-term impact of that support every day. What begins as a simple act of belief can grow into something far greater: a professional career, an academic achievement, a leadership role, or the confidence to inspire others.

Many of the girls who once got this support are now doing the same for those coming after them. Some like Princess Marfo, the first female graduate from Ghana Academy to join FCN, have helped demonstrate that the professional pathway in football is possible for the next generation. Others like Denmark Academy grad Kathrine Kuhl, currently playing at Atlético Madrid, are opening doors for girls to claim their place in the game in new environments. Student-athletes like Joy Okonye, currently studying at Brown University, are showing that excellence on the pitch can go hand in hand with excellence in the classroom.

Each of these journeys reflects a simple but powerful idea: opportunity grows when it is shared.

The Idea Behind Give to Gain

This International Women’s Day, Right to Dream is celebrating that principle through our Give to Gain campaign.

The idea behind Give to Gain is rooted in the belief that when individuals share their knowledge, their time, their platforms, and their belief in others, they create opportunities that extend far beyond one person. Support becomes momentum, and individual success becomes collective progress.

That is the power of Give to Gain.

Because when one person gives their support, the impact can shape the future of many others, accelerating the rise of a generation of women who will continue to lead, inspire, and change the game in their own ways.