Atoot is a non-profit in Nepal that uses soccer and education to empower girls in rural communities, giving them opportunities and tools to pursue their own goals by addressing challenges like child marriage, school drop-out, and lack of voice. They work with girls aged 5-18 in Kapilvastu district, providing football training, life skills workshops, and educational classes to help girls break cycles of poverty and gender discrimination. Evaluation of their 2022 program found high satisfaction rates among both beneficiaries and their families and demonstrated positive impacts on views of girls' value and safety.

1. ATOOT
Contact:
Ph: +1 (563) 650-4441
E-mail: svanvooren@atoot.org
Website: www.atootgirls.org
Her Voice. Her Choice.

2. WHAT IS ATOOT?
Atoot means ‘unbreakable’ in the Nepalese
language.
We are a Sports for Development (S4D) non-
profit which uses football as a platform to give
girls in rural Nepal equal opportunities and tools
to pursue their own life’s narrative.

3. ATOOT’S MISSION
Changing the Social Narrative, One Kick at a Time
Atoot’s mission is to avail equal sportive and educational opportunities
for marginalized, rural Nepali girls.

4. WHERE WE WORK
Dohani Village,
Shuddhodhan Gaunpalika
Kapilvastu District
(Province 5)
One of the highest rates of child marriage in Nepal.
62% of girls aged 10 to 19 get married in the district -
the national average is 41% (Nepal Census 2011).
One of the 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. (Nepal Census 2011).
Diverse Population including many minority groups –
Hindus, Madhesis, Dalits, Janjati, Muslims.

5. CHALLENGES GIRLS FACE
Child Marriage
.
60% of girls in
rural areas are
married as
children
(Girls Not Brides).
Early School
Drop-Out
.
Girls are pulled
out of school by
grades 4 or 5
(UNICEF).
Girls have
NO VOICE
Girls are isolated in
their communities
and are given no
decision making
powers.
Gender Based
Violence
.
Kapilvastu, the
region we work,has
one of the highest
rates of gender
discrimination and
gender based
violence (Nepal
Census, 2011).

6. Poverty
Lack of
Education
Gender
Discrimination
Superstitions
Regarding
Virginity &
Menstruation
Child Labour
Dowry
Practices
FACTORS
INFLUENCING THE
CHALLENGES FACED
BY GIRLS

7. HOW WE WORK
• Target population:
Girls – Age 5 to 18 years
We will also work with boys as well as the parents
of all children in the community. We believe that
no sustainable change can take place without the
entire community taking ownership of the change.
Atoot’s staff engage and motivate the residents
around the villages through daily meetings.
• Programming: 5 days a week
Football
(Soccer)
Sessions
Educational
Classes
Life-skills
Workshops
WHO DO WE WORK WITH?
Community Engagement

8. ATOOT’S GOALS
⮚Atoot helps 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.
Help Girls Break the Cycle
⮚Atoot provides a platform for those who never had a voice to gain confidence, form
emboldening relationships, and break the barriers of social and cultural norms.
Provide A Platform
⮚Through furnishing a safe space (football pitch/education center), girls join together in a
progressive environment to play, learn, and surround themselves with positive peers -
enabling them to discover their inner self worth.
Furnish A Safe Space
Atoot uses Sports and Education to:

9. CURRENT
CONDITIONS
FEMALES HAVE
NO VOICE
There is a high rate
of Child Marriage
especially among
girls, high rate of
Early School Drop-
Outs, and high rate
of human trafficking.
Getting girls to
believe in their own
self-worth
Empowering women
to take their own
decisions about their
own lives
Educating the
communities that
daughters are not a
burden but an asset
STRATEGIES
Regular Football
training with an
emphasis on social
transformation
Life-skills workshops
which discuss issues
like child rights,
health & hygiene,
menstruation, etc.
Educational Classes:
High quality extra
education classes by
passionate tutors,
including Nepali,
English & Math
ACTION
Value of girls in the
community is higher –
Gender Equality*
Decrease of
child marriage –
Reduced Inequalities*
Increase in school
enrolment and
retention rates + girls
pursuing higher
education – Quality
Education*
Increase in rate of self
sustainability/employm
ent – Less Poverty*
Reduction in rates of
human trafficking –
Increased Human
Rights Knowledge*
IMPACT
EVERY GIRLS’
CHOICE FOR HER
OWN FUTURE!
Girls in the
community will be
leaders of change
in their own lives,
communities and
beyond. Every girl
in the community
will be empowered
to take her own
life decisions.
VISION
[*U.N. SDGs - Sustainable
Development Goals]
ATOOT’S THEORY
OF CHANGE

10. WHY SPORTS AND EDUCATION?
The game of football in itself teaches countless
skills that cannot be taught in a classroom:
Problem Solving Decision Making
Teamwork Responsibility
Resilience Time Management
Confidence Respect
Determination Goal Attainment

11. “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 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

12. ● Worked with an overall average of 200+ female beneficiaries.
● An average of 80-100 beneficiaries attended daily programming.
● Beneficiaries ranged from ages 4-18 years old.
● Hosted 382 extra education classes in English, Nepali, and Math.
● Hosted 171 football (soccer) sessions.
● Hosted 67 life-skills workshops.
● Hosted 89 meetings with beneficiaries’ families and other community stakeholders.
● 98% of beneficiaries interviewed agreed that Atoot staff cared about their well being and development.
● 94% of beneficiaries interviewed agreed that they feel safe when they attend Atoot’s program
● 98% of beneficiaries interviewed agreed that Atoot staff make educational learning fun and informative.
● 90% of beneficiaries interviewed agreed that their family viewed Atoot staff as a positive influence in
their lives.
● 96% of beneficiaries interviewed said that they would recommend Atoot to other girls.
● 96% of parents interviewed agreed that Atoot staff were a positive influence in their daughters’ lives.
● 89% of parents interviewed agreed that they want the Atoot program to stay in the community for many
years.
MEASURING SUCCESS
Sept. 2021 - Aug 2022
*All data collected from daily fieldwork, monthly activity reports and 81 Impact Assessment Surveys distributed in
September 2022

13. WHY INVEST IN ATOOT?
WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE!
Atoot staff have a combined 30+ years of successful experience in the field of sport for
development non-profit work. Our knowledge and expertise is well known in the industry.
Our software is the hardware which makes Atoot successful.
LOW COST + LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT = SUSTAINABLE CHANGE!
The implementation of grassroots sports and educational programs can be easy and cheap,
and, if developed well, can become a low cost, high social benefit venture.
WE ARE IN IT, FOR THEM TO WIN IT!
We know the success of these types of community development require sustained,
dedicated attention over many years. We adapt and understand the needs, build
sustainable programs, foster relationships and integrate ourselves into the community.
You Can MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

14. ❖ We are looking for partners and funders who align with our values and can
strengthen & expand our work.
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
HELP FUND OUR PROGRAMS!
⮚ PARTNER WITH US
WE ARE A FULLY REGISTERED 501c3
IN THE U.S.A. AND A REGISTERED
NEPALI CHARITY LOOKING FOR
FUNDING PARTNERS!
⮚ Donate new or used sport and
educational equipments & materials
▪ Footballs, cones, football socks, bibs,
jerseys, boots, whiteboards, chalkboards,
chalk, notebooks, crayons, stationary, color
markers, socks, gloves, stocking caps, warm
jackets, etc.
VOLUNTEER!
Teach educational classes, coach
football practices, mentor girls,
lead extra curricular activities, or
conduct community research.

15. MEET OUR CO-FOUNDERS
Sarah Van Vooren has lived in India, Cambodia,
Philippines, Haiti, Jordan, Kenya & Nepal the past ten
years, working with & managing other grassroots sport
for development non-profits which use football &
education to empower girls in rural communities of
underdeveloped countries.
Originally from Iowa, U.S.A., she graduated from Loyola
University Chicago & completed a Master of Philosophy
in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin.
Mashreeb Aryal has worked with girls and
adults using sports, education, and narrative
therapy throughout Nepal & India over the past
eight years.
Originally from Nepal, he graduated with a BA in
English from Symbiosis College of Arts and
Commerce and completed a Masters’ Degree in
Social Work from Madras Christian College.

16. GET IN TOUCH
Registered Offices:
Nepal:
Hanuman Galli, Kalanki - 14
Kathmandu, 44600
Nepal
U.S.A.:
2738 Elm St.
Davenport, Iowa
52803
U.S.A.
Website: www.atootgirls.org
Instagram: @atootgirls
Twitter: @atoot_girls
Facebook: @atootgirls