The Gary Kirsten Foundation (GKF) Women and Girls programme is committed to ensuring generational equality in the rural and township areas of South Africa.

The programme caters particularly to female cricket coaches and young girl cricketers in the Khayelitsha township in the Western Cape, and has been tailored to form part of a wider vision by the GKF to bring about gender equality and opportunities for the marginalised in communities. Our vision of empowering female coaches and the young girls in our disadvantaged communities through sport is aimed at changing the narrative of their future and further advancing gender justice in sports.

Young women and girls are often expected to uphold and take care of the family and community, often giving up their love and passion for sports. The GKF aims to give young women and girls an avenue to pursue their sporting dreams while remaining functioning (bringing in an income) and nurturing members of their family and community.

The tailored programmed is rolled out at the GKF Centre of Cricket Excellence in Khayelitsha, and provides coaching workshops, cricket coaching, mentorship and socio-economic and life-skills support for the women and girls. 

A lot of attention is given to young males in the sports industry, but with support and structures, the GKF ensures the girl child can not only take charge of her future in sport, but also that her success will ensure the future of the community and her family is also in good hands.

 When women and girls rise, their communities and countries rise with them.