Who We Are
History
Atoot is a 501(c)3 registered charity in the United States of America, as well as a registered charity in Nepal.
Atoot means 'unbreakable' in Nepali language. We took the name as it represents the girls we work with. Our girls are viewed as a burden; a liability. They are beaten down physically, emotionally, and mentally on a daily basis - yet still they rise - before sun up and far past sundown, bearing all the burdens of labour within their families' homes. Simply put, they are unbreakable.
Atoot was founded based on the need for safe and empowering spaces for girls that face inequality, discrimination and injustice in Nepal. Atoot co-founders, Sarah & Mashreeb, worked together in rural India seven years ago and witnessed the grave consequences of being a girl child. They also discovered endless possibilities when you give girls a platform to have a choice and a voice. Combining their 13 years of work experience, they joined their shared passion for empowering girls and women - and thus, Atoot was born!
Atoot believes in the power of sport for the greater good. We believe sport is a tool to help bridge gaps, promote gender equality, build resilience, eradicate discrimination, level the playing field and build character/self-esteem.
Atoot's Goals
Atoot uses Sport and Education to:
- Help girls break out of the vicious and often violent cycles they are trapped in, and enable them to empower themselves and make their own life decisions.
- Provide a platform for those who never had a voice to gain confidence, form emboldening relationships, and break barriers of social and cultural norms.
- Furnish a safe space (football pitch/educational centre) where girls can join together in a progressive environment to lay, learn and surround themselves with positive peers - enabling them to discover their self-worth.
Where We Work
Kapilvastu District (Province 5)
- Kapilvastu district has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Nepal. 62% of girls aged 10 to 19 get married in the district while the national average is 41%*.
- Kapilvastu also has one of highest rates of youth population in Nepal - almost 50% is under the age of 20*. This is about 10% higher than the national average making Kapilvastu one of the most promising districts for scope of development!
- There is a diverse population including many minority groups - Hindus, Madhesis, Dalits, Janjatis, Muslims, Buddhists, among others.
*Nepal Census 2011
“Sports are such an empowering vehicle for girls and boys. It teaches important life values like teamwork, conflict resolution, and resilience, and allows you to expand yourself personally, identifying strengths and weaknesses and grow into a successful, happy human.”
Abby Wambach
2x Olympic soccer gold medalist,
6x U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year,
FIFA World Player of the Year (2012),
Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year &
FIFA Women's World Cup Champion