Leah Williamson became the first Arsenal and England player to address the United Nations on Tuesday when she joined world leaders for the United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals Summit in New York.
The Lionesses' captain issued a plea to challenge gender stereotypes and level the playing field for girls in football across the globe. Williamson was speaking following a recent to Za’atari in Jordan, the largest Syrian refugee camp in the world.
With The Arsenal Foundation and Save the Children, she saw firsthand the impact football has on the girls and families in the camp.
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Williamson told arsenal.com: “Sport has the power to change lives – but it’s still not a level playing field for so many girls around the world. Football definitely changed my life.
"After visiting the Za’atari refugee camp, I’ve seen first-hand how our football programme, Coaching for Life, is helping the girls in the camp cope better with the challenges they face.
“Almost all women footballers will have a story about the challenges they faced taking up the game, but at least in countries like England and America we had a chance. In some countries, girls have social restrictions that limit their access to playing football and that has to change.
"Through The Arsenal Foundation’s work with Save the Children, we’ve shown in Za’atari how we can empower girls through sport, and how boys can play an active role with us on that journey.”
Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal's Chief Executive, added: “Everyone at the club is incredibly proud of Leah visiting the UN to advocate on behalf of girls around the world. Leah will be the first Arsenal player to do this on this stage and use our voice to champion global communities to bring progress.
"Having visited Za’atari and seen the impact Coaching for Life is making, I am proud we can lift the voices of children in the camp and share the power of sport and programmes like this with so many others who can make a meaningful difference to the world.”
