Nike celebrates the Int’l Day of the Girl with several activations
Celebrate the Girl.
Today, October 11, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of the Girl. In true NIke form, they’ve lined up several activations to inspire women here in the PH and around the world. From training camps, court refurbishings and customizable tees, here’s a look at what Nike has lined up for the PH:
Homecourt for the Girl
Continuing their partnershpi with Manila-based non-profit organization Girls Got Game Philippines (GGG), Nike is announcing the launch of two creatively-designed, fully refurbished multi-purpose courts in Sta. Maria Bulacan. These courts are meant to be a space to learn, grow and have fun, giving girls access to more opportunities through sport.
Jino Ferrer, country marketing manager, Nike Philippines, said: “Kids are made to play, yet many in the Philippines, particularly young girls, do not have access to sports. Nike and Girls Got Game are investing in the future of kids by giving them access to tools and training they need for success, building confidence on and off the court by exposing them to positive female role models and breaking down barriers to create inclusive communities.”
These multi-purpose courts are located at Sacred Heart Academy School and were designed by artist and illustrator Jill Arteche. These courts represent the “Now”, as young girls learn various sportslike volleyball, basketball, rugby or football, while the indoor court features these girls’ ambitions of the “Future”, as they hope to become doctors, leades or athletes. These are great reminders to them that their dreams are always within reach.
Added Ferrer: “We hope to inspire the next generation of Filipina girls to view the refurbished courts as a symbol of their goals and dreams and that accomplishing these, however small, is what brings a sense of achievement.” Mariana Lopa, GGG’s Managing Director also stressed that sport has the power to transform a person, community and the world. Both Nike and GGG share this common purpose of moving the world forward through sport. Girls Got Game runs sports clinics to help girls build confidence and hopefully realize their full potential, further leading them to an equitable future.
These sports camps run by GGG have helped more than 2,500 young girls across the Philippines aged 10-14, mostly coming from economically-challenged households. While we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, GGG also launched the “GGG Club”, a means for the organization to continue to conduct sports camps online.
Nike knows that by creating safe and fun places for girls to play, and with the right mindset and tools, like Nike’s latest coaching guide, anyone can help create an inclusive play and sport environment for girls.
Celebrate the Girl (on your tee)
As mentioned earlier, Nike partnered with Filipina designer and illustrator Jill Arteche for the designs used on the refurbished courts. To further the story, these designs are now available for us to customize our tees and tote bags through NIke’s Nike By You space at Nike Fort in BGC. 9 illustrations are available (see above) for customization, so just head on down to Nike Park Fort and use these designs on Nike tees and totes.
Whether you share these camps or rock these tees, it’s great to see brands like Nike remind us that the future can be bright when we act together. Clarize Ann Merciales, one of GGG’s recent campers had this to share:
“My dream is to be a great illustrator. I love making art. I want others to see my work,” 15-year-old Clarize Ann Merciales boldly proclaims. “I would mostly see boys playing basketball in my neighborhood court so I didn’t know if sports was for me,” Clarize continues. “But I realized sports made me happy. I can learn a new skill and play justlike boys did.”