INTERVIEW | Isha Johansen: CAF’s Football For Change aims to transform the narrative and eliminate gender disparities

CAF has successfully concluded its landmark gender empowerment and rehabilitation initiative at the Women’s Correctional Centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Twenty-five (25) women incarcerated at the Freetown Correctional Centre benefitted from the CAF D License Coaching Course as part of CAF’s Football For Change initiative, which is a continuation of the programme that started in November last year, and uses football to drive social impact.

FIFA and CAF Executive Committee Member Isha Johansen, a pioneer of the programme, talks about Football for Change and explains how it aligns with the Football For Reform project that she sponsors.

The initiative was implemented alongside the CAF and Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Women’s Football Capacity-building Workshop with the aim of empowering women and breaking barriers through the development of players, coaches, referees, and administrators.

Here is an exclusive interview where Johansen discusses how this CAF Gender Empowerment Initiative project is working to transform the narrative and eliminate gender disparities.

Q: What motivated you to get involved in this unique project?

IJ: Everything I have done in the past three and a half decades has been driven and motivated by a humanitarian vision. In the late 90s, I published the first in-flight magazine called Kabo, which promoted the beautiful side of Sierra Leone and was used by the National Tourist Board for promotion. I also initiated the first Women of Excellence Awards to recognize and celebrate women from all walks of life, especially in the aftermath of a bitter civil war which impacted women and children the most.

Besides, I founded the Pink Charity Fund, a breast cancer awareness program providing screening facilities to women with low income.

And then came football. Football has always been a part of my background, but projects like the Women of Excellence Awards and the Pink Charity Fund were more visible.

The FC Johansen story is one of the most powerful and inspirational stories, especially in using football as a tool for change. It involved underprivileged kids from the streets having trials in famous football clubs. This is just a natural progression for me as these initiatives are aligned with my humanitarian vision.

Football for Change and Reform is no different from all the other projects that I have embarked on. It uses football to empower the girls; it is about rehabilitation, transforming their lives to get them back into society. Through football, we all come together. This is the power of our beautiful game.

Q: Why did you decide to become such a powerful drive for the CAF’s Football for Change, and how does it match with Football for Reform that you sponsor?

IJ: Fate led me to the Women’s Correctional Centre. While serving as the SLFA President, we visited the male correctional centre and donated balls and jerseys. We had also promised to support them further by exploring the idea of creating a league to keep the inmates engaged. Similarly, we had planned to meet the young girls at the Correctional Centre, but unfortunately, my schedule did not allow it. They had prepared some gifts for us, and we were eager to see what they had created. Talks were ongoing on another project in 2021 called the Manor River Union Football for Peace Initiative, which involves collaborating with the neighbouring countries of Liberia, Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire due to the impact of the civil war and shared borders. This initiative has garnered interest from the former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. As a result, we invited her to be the guest of honour. We visited the correctional centre and were deeply moved by the young girls there. Many of them were incarcerated for minor offences and couldn’t afford to pay their fines. Together, we have been financially supporting young girls at the correctional centre, providing them with skills training and legal representation. In addition, we proposed to FIFA to fund a workshop series for these girls. The workshops resonated with CAF, who would provide lessons, teaching, and practical work, and we also received sewing machines from partners. Last year, the program’s success led to an invitation to showcase their work at the prestigious London Fashion Week, and they have been invited again this year. The founder hopes that their inspiring story will resonate with football federations in Africa and around the world, emphasizing the power of football in bringing about positive change in society. Fashion for Change, like Football for Reform, is part of the Football for Change project.

Q: What message does CAF want to send to women in correctional centres by giving them the opportunity to become football coaches?

IJ: It’s important to convey a message to women incarcerated about the opportunities they have through football. Our narrative has shifted, and it’s essential for them to understand that the belief that football is a male-only industry is a thing of the past. Women before us have fought tirelessly to change this narrative, overcoming obstacles and unpleasant experiences caused by sexism. Today, women are taking on leadership roles in football administration, and it’s no longer surprising to see women in positions of governance within the football industry globally.

It’s crucial for incarcerated women to know that this shift in the football industry is not a new phenomenon but a change of times that is happening now. It’s essential to emphasize that there are various opportunities within football beyond coaching. Women can pursue roles such as administrators, seamstresses, and designers, or work behind the scenes and use football as that tool. Football has numerous avenues through which women can be involved, making it an inclusive and unifying force.

Q: You had the opportunity to meet the women who are taking part in the programme. What are your impressions?

IJ: I was present at the initial launch before the alleged security breach back in November 2023. A lot of them are very young.  Prior to the event, I had the opportunity to meet and brief this group of young girls, and I remember feeling genuinely excited about the prospect of collaborating with them. I convey my best wishes to them and assure them of CAF’s continuous support.

Q: How do you think football can contribute to the social reintegration of women in correctional centres?

IJ: After completing the D license course, one can still commit to the C and B licenses, and women leaving the correctional centre can take part in coaching programs and benefit from them. We have proposed the idea of setting up a 7-aside pitch for them to have regular training facilities. However, security restrictions might prevent them from going out to play, so we can consider the possibility of having a small pitch within their precinct. Obtaining these licenses empowers them to seek job opportunities with the Football Association or in schools where women’s football is becoming more popular. This gives them something to look forward to and reduces the risk of them returning to the correctional centre due to lack of opportunities.

Q: What are the main challenges facing women in correctional centres in Sierra Leone and how can football help them overcome them?

IJ: The main challenge faced by women in correctional centres is the lack of financial support for legal representation. It’s crucial that they have access to better legal aid and income-generating opportunities to be able to pay their fines. We have been working on raising funds to help them, but we are in need of partners and donors to further this cause. Additionally, they require sewing machines and support to develop sewing skills. Some women have completed their sentences but are unable to pay fines, some as minimal as $250, which results in additional time served at the centre. This situation is truly heartbreaking.

Q: What are CAF’s aspirations for the future of this programme?

IJ: I would imagine that a global expansion of this programme would be a great achievement for CAF. This project seeks to introduce gender empowerment and rehabilitation for women in Correctional Centres. It is a groundbreaking concept that has not yet been implemented elsewhere in the world. I strongly believe that we should wholeheartedly commit to this initiative and replicate it with our Member Associations in Africa. I am confident that this initiative would garner widespread support, as it aims to use football as a force for positive change in the lives of many people and to promote reform and rehabilitation.

Q: How can people and communities help support this programme?

IJ: We believe that people, communities, and international partners such as the UN, UNICEF, UN Women, and UNDP, should work together with CAF and FIFA, to address important criteria such as health, gender, and youth issues. Banks can offer valuable support, and the legal system should advocate for and support these initiatives. It’s important to focus on areas like education, funding, and finance, but we also need legal support to ensure that football reforms are carried out effectively. At the end of the day, we, as football administrators, understand and recognise the power of football to unify and promote economic growth and welfare without discrimination. Football is a force for good.