Projects will receive support to develop, test and scale local innovations that address pressing societal issues aligned with the specific needs of communities, with a focus on equitable access to resources.

The 12 Grassroots365 grant recipients, selected in collaboration with Women win and Beyond Sport, reflect a wide range of innovative approaches:

• 1,000 Days African Action (South Sudan): Soccer tournaments teaching girls health and life skills.
• Women’s Sports Association of Amazonia (Brazil): Encourage women’s participation in mountain biking by training local teams to organize events.
• Youth Association (Mali): Eco-friendly basketball courts accessible to people with disabilities.
• AYNI Skate Project (Bolivia): Safe and educational skate spaces for marginalized youth, especially girls.
• Finaa Organization (Jordan): Football fields for girls, promoting sports participation in Petra.
• Freedom Restoration Project (Thailand): Fitness and football for survivors of gender-based violence in the migrant community of Mae Sot.
• Dream Big (Italy/Cyprus): Football tournaments promoting the well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.
• Hawa Feminist Coalition (Somalia): Sports programs and mentoring for girls at risk of violence.
• Impact Academy (Egypt): Refugee women as ambassadors for climate justice.
• Psychology Spa (Palestine): Stress and trauma relief through accessible sports programs.
• SOMA Surf (São Tomé and Príncipe): Surf therapy advances gender equality and social inclusion.
• Watoto Wasoka (Uganda): Football drills and play-based learning with water, sanitation and hygiene education.

This first group of recipients, among the four funds of the Olympism365 innovation center, represent diverse regions and initiatives, and are all committed to innovating the way sport is used as a transformative tool for sustainable development at the community level.

Two of the projects illustrate the breadth and depth of this impact: Watoto Wasoka in Uganda and the Amazon Women’s Sports Association in Brazil. Both initiatives demonstrate how local innovation can address critical local challenges while driving equity and inclusion through sport.

Amazon Women’s Sports Association: Empowering Women Through Mountain Biking

In the Amazon region of Brazil, the Amazon Women’s Sports Association encourages women’s participation in mountain biking and equips local teams to host sporting events. Through these efforts, the initiative not only promotes gender equity, but also builds a network of women leaders in sports. Participants learn skills in resilience, teamwork and leadership while challenging gender stereotypes in remote communities.