The Facts
Country: Netherlands
Launched: 2005
Partners: Nike Northern Europe, Be InterACTive
Objectives: Empowering women from ethnic minority groups through sport
Program Highlights:
- Providing 130 migrant women with the opportunity for growth and empowerment through running
- 14 women have learnt to train other women and are currently leading their own running groups
- Nike donated a total of €40,000 in cash and product to enable the successful continuation of the project
“I’d always wanted to start running; for about 18 years but I never started because I didn’t know women like me could. Until once I was walking outside and I saw some Moroccan neighbours running, wearing Nike shoes and Arabic clothing and they told me I could join them. So I did.
Before that I was always at home. Now the change in my life is amazing. I completed the Train the Trainer course and now I’m a trainer, and to think I only started running for myself.
In January I hope to get my Teaching diploma. If I didn’t start running I don’t think I’d be so ahead with my education.
Nike gave me the opportunity when I never thought it was possible. And for me it’s very important that I can make other women more enthusiastic. Now they have less fear because they see us and we can explain to them in Arabic about our experience so it’s less scary.” - Zainab, a successful participant of the Nike Be InterACTive project.
Upon migrating to the Netherlands many women experience difficulties integrating into Dutch society. Often they feel depressed, isolated and contend with health problems because they think there is no other option.
In 2005 the Be InterACTive Start to Run program was born. The project uses sport as a tool for social inclusion for females from ethnic minority groups. Nike Netherlands has been a supporter of the Start to Run project since 2006 and continues to play an active role in changing women’s lives and creating new dreams through fitness.
“Everybody has the right to play sport and to experience its positive benefits. Unfortunately though, not everyone has the same opportunity, education, environment and access to sport. Nike’s partnership with Be InterACTive encourages these girls and women to extend themselves and supports them to create better futures for themselves via sport.
The Start to Run project enables Dutch Islamic women easier access to running. They offer a 6 week running project which creates enthusiasm for running and teaches them about health and nutrition. After the 6 weeks training women are encouraged to complete a 3km or 6km run.
Once the initial training is over these women also have the chance to become trainers and teach other women to run. To date 14 women have completed the Train the Trainer course, have received their certificates and are now leading their own running groups.
The greatest victory of the project isn’t that more Islamic women are running, but rather it’s the new found confidence these women have.
Women who once thought it impossible to run are realising that it is possible. This also filters into other aspects of their lives, as they start to realise that other things they once never thought possible, are.
Visit www.nikewomen.com and vote for Netherlands – Start To Run if you think this program deserves a grant from Nike.
To learn more about the Be InterACTive, visit the site here.
