Encouraging girls to reach their goals

The project was established by sportswear giant Nike on March 8, 2019, to help increase female participation in sports.

Before its implementation, a survey was conducted among more than 2,000 female students, aged between 9 and 14, to discover the main obstacles that they face. The results show that they often fall victim to discrimination and the stereotypical view that certain sports are not for girls. The fear of being judged by the opposite sex, changes in their physical maturity and lack of female sporting role models are also demotivating factors.

Based on the findings, the project collaborated widely with schools to offer specially designed courses in yoga, kickboxing and other sports for girls, as well as encouraging physical education teachers to propose creative plans to enable more girls to enjoy athletic pursuits in a more scientific way. Sports bras have also been donated to project participants.

Additionally, female employees of Nike, and sports enthusiasts from universities, have also been invited to volunteer in coaching girls in school sports.

More than 30,000 female students from over 320 primary schools across the country have benefited from the project's initiatives over the past three years.

Han Jingwen, a 14-year-old participant in the project, says her mother used to hold the view that playing soccer would distract her from studies. However, after the project invited volunteers from Peking University to coach at her school for a semester, she found new, accessible role models.

"I told my mother I can play soccer and, at the same time, maintain a good academic performance, just like the older girls from Peking University," she says.

After witnessing how the young girls responded to the volunteers, Nike decided to upgrade the project, launching Boundless Girls 2.0－together with China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, China Children and Teenagers' Fund and other charity partners－in the hope of reaching out to a larger group of teenagers in need.

This time, the project will make greater efforts in engaging volunteers from universities to accompany and guide young girls in embracing the happiness of sports at dedicated summer camps.