New Delhi: In the narrow lanes of Zakir Nagar, football is changing the lives of young Muslim girls. Through the Premier League Primary Stars initiative, launched by the British Council and the English Premier League, dozens of girls are learning teamwork, discipline, and self-belief. The program, supported by local NGOs, uses sport to teach essential life skills and challenge gender barriers.
On the International Day of the Girl Child, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron visited a training session to meet the players. She praised their spirit and said the project empowers girls by giving them the confidence to dream and lead.
Local coach and activist Anne Aizhak, founder of the Fairy Fari Foundation, has been a driving force behind the movement. Once a participant in the Homeless World Cup, she began coaching in her teens to help other girls find their voice through sport. Most of her students come from government schools and are now competing in tournaments at various levels.
Girls like Rasha, Tisha, Shariqa, and Alia say football has helped them overcome hesitation, family resistance, and social pressure. Their growing confidence has inspired many parents to support the initiative. Every weekend, up to 50 children gather to play, while local residents cheer from the sidelines.
What started as a small community effort is now helping reshape how young Muslim girls in Delhi view their potential, both on and off the field.
