Following up on International Women’s Month, we highlight female empowerment in sports through our partnership with KNHB, The Royal Dutch Hockey Association – playing a key role in creating opportunities for women and strengthening local structures for long-term impact. Together, we continue to drive positive change for women and girls in sports.
Under the arms of the KNHB (The Royal Dutch Hockey Association), representing Hockey Dreams Foundation and Bovelander Foundation, we are part of the Sport for Development programme. Together, we promote life skills development through sports and play while providing education opportunities to hockey coaches and players. By investing in coaches, we help young people set goals, take charge of their futures, and become game changers in their communities.
Through this, we strengthen grassroots hockey development in Uganda, Malawi (Hockey Dreams) and India (Bovelander). In 2024 alone, our hockey programmes trained 35 female coaches out of 93 total coaches and engaged 3.629 girls out of 8.018 youth participants. Many of these coaches have transformed their passion into part-time or full-time careers, demonstrating how sports can serve as an impuls for employment, leadership, and development.
Women driving hockey’s growth in Uganda
As someone deeply involved in Ugandan hockey, Bridget Baine (Executive Committee Member of the Uganda Hockey Association and Coach at Gayaza High School & Kampala Hockey Club Uganda), knows all about the powerful impact that sports can have on individuals and communities.
Over the years, she has seen firsthand how Hockey Dreams has transformed the landscape of women’s hockey in Uganda, not just by strengthening the sport but by creating life-changing opportunities for female athletes, coaches, and leaders.
Through grassroots development, Hockey Dreams has built a foundation for young female players to grow, compete, and lead. Their commitment to empowering coaches extends beyond technical skills, they invest in education, leadership, and soft skills, ensuring that every coach and player develops into a well-rounded professional.
“By integrating mental health awareness, gender equality training, and sexual, menstrual & reproductive health (SRHR) programmes, they provide a safe and supportive environment without limitations.”
Hockey Dreams Foundation has also played a key role in elevating Uganda’s National Hockey League by producing skilled female athletes who now play at the highest level. The training programmes have helped both male and female coaches lead successful women’s teams, creating a stronger, more inclusive hockey community.
Two major initiatives aimed at strengthening female participation in hockey:
✔ Community Activity in Naguru – A girls’ empowerment session that engaged at least 60 young female athletes, focusing on breaking down barriers to participation in sports and education.
✔ Community Training with the Uganda Hockey Association – A gathering of over 60 female hockey players and coaches, the session tackled critical questions such as:
“Why do female players have inconsistent attendance at training and matches? Why do women drop out of sports earlier than men?
What solutions can we implement to keep women engaged in hockey?”
Through these open discussions, female players and coaches developed actionable strategies to sustain participation in women’s hockey and drive long-term change.
For Bridget, Hockey Dreams’ work is more than just sport. She has seen young girls grow into leaders, coaches turn their passion into professional careers, and an entire community unite behind the growth of women’s hockey in Uganda.
With continued support, more girls will have the opportunity to develop, compete, and lead through hockey.
Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality
Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by ensuring equal opportunities and eliminating barriers to participation. Hockey Dreams Foundation and Bovelander foundation (together under the arms of KNHB) contribute to this goal by fostering female leadership, creating inclusive environments and providing training opportunities that equip women with skills. By breaking stereotypes and increasing female representation in coaching and decision-making roles, these initiatives help build a more equitable future where women and girls have the same opportunities to thrive in sports and beyond.
