Ritah Aliguma, the CEO of the Aliguma Foundation, is currently in the United States for a one-month camp as part of the Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) held in Washington D.C. The invite to the program is a testament to her continued efforts to break barriers as an entrepreneur and sports journalist worldwide.
In The Land Of Opportunity: CEO Ritah Aliguma (L) and a fellow program atendee enjoy the thrills of the high adrenaline Giant Swing at Terrapin Adventures in Savage Mill. (All photos/U.S. Dept. of State in cooperation with University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace, & Society. Photographer: Jaron Johns)
Apart from her role as the head of the Aliguma Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women, girls, and children through sports and education in Acholi Quarters – Kampala and Kinuuma village in Masindi District, Aliguma's achievements include organizing the visit of Aleksander Ceferin, the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), to Uganda, which garnered international attention for her foundation earlier this year.
Power of sport
Ritah's profile continues to rise, and her recent trip to the United States for the 2023 edition of the U.S. Department of State-espnW GSMP is a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact. This program, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and espnW, leverages the power of sport and mentorship to engage women from around the world with American sports industry executives.
Strength Of A Woman: The GSMP has brought together 16 international women from various countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Uganda.
The 11th edition of GSMP commenced with an inaugural address by Lee Satterfield, the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs on Monday, October 16. This program aims to create a global network of women in sports, working together to promote access to education, economic equity, and societal inclusion.
Ritah is currently under the mentorship of Taryn Hutt, Vice President of Club Marketing at the National Football League (NFL), and Megan Bell, Vice President of Business Intelligence & Ticketing at the Los Angeles Chargers. She is making great strides at the camp, with the U.S. Mission Uganda keeping a close watch on her progress. You can follow her journey on their X (Twitter) page; [https://twitter.com/usmissionuganda/status/1716348056918962199?t=FmQ7KN1lpxpX2vgeI562Tw&s=08].
Aliguma Watch: The U.S Mission posted on the socials about CEO Ritah Aliguma's progress at the GSMP in Washington D.C.
Exciting team building
In a video conference call with the foundation's volunteers in Uganda, Ritah expressed her enthusiasm, saying;
"I am enjoying my stay here. What I have noticed is that we have a lot to learn and implement. The team-building exercises are both exciting and challenging. What we do back home is far from sufficient. When I return, we will organize proper team-building and bonding exercises. It's time to do things the right way."
This year's GSMP has brought together 16 international women from various countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Uganda, pairing them with mentors from the American sports industry.
Leaning Day: On Day 6, the 16 mentees had a session with Stacie McCullum, did Movement Therapy with Keti and had a Monument Tour.
These mentors come from organizations such as the Big East Conference, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), ESPN, Double Verify, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the NFL (with the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Chargers, and NFL Films), the NHL, NCAA, New Balance, Saatchi & Saatchi, the University of Connecticut, the University of Louisville, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and the Women's Sports Foundation.
Learning & imparting knowlege
Ritah's professional goals continue to evolve, but her mission remains unchanged.
“I am committed to using sports to empower girls from vulnerable communities in Uganda, providing them with freedom, safety, and strength. I also hope that the GSMP will enhance my strategic and conceptual writing skills and further develop my financial and business management techniques,” added Ritah.
The GSMP is focused on professional development, networking, and capacity building. When the international participants return to their home countries, the U.S. Department of State and espnW expect them to create and implement action plans with ongoing guidance from their American mentors. These action plans address critical issues, from professional opportunities in the sports industry to grassroots engagement with underserved youth.
Sport For Life: The Aliguma Foundation founder - Ritah Aliguma - partakes in a long jump drill on Day 4 when the group had a Special Olympics Training & Session with Sarah McQuade.
Ritah Aliguma's mentorship sites will be Los Angeles Chargers and National Football League (NFL) in New York. The 16 international women are currently in California for the Women+Sports Summit which ends on Thursday, October 26 before they head back to Washington D.C.
The University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace, and Society is the cooperative partner for the U.S. Department of State-espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program.
Additional story info from; https://globalsportsmentoring.org/global-sports-mentor-program/emerging-leaders/ritah-aliguma/ & https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/10/espnw-and-u-s-department-of-state-launch-eleventh-year-of-global-sports-mentoring-program/
About espnW
espnW is a global multiplatform brand dedicated to engaging and inspiring women through sports. espnW.com, the brand’s content home, offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and captures the biggest trends in sports life/style. espnW also provides a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women and highlights the crossroads of sports and culture. Founded in July 2010, espnW’s content and voices live across digital, television, radio, films, events, educational platforms and social media.
About GSMP
The U.S. Department of State believes that sport is a vehicle to advance the status, liberty, and well-being of women, girls, and marginalized people at home and abroad. Through its partnership with espnW and the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace & Society to implement the GSMP: Empower Women through Sports program, the Department of State aims to expand the footprint of Title IX and its message of equality and opportunity for women into every corner of the world.
This sports diplomacy effort allows new generations of girls to experience the many benefits of sports participation: increased confidence, improved health, greater employment opportunities, and enhanced academic success.
One For The Archives: The 16 ladies attending the GSMP pose for a priceless picture at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. USA on October 22nd. Many a time Christians gather around the historical site for a time of prayer and worship.
The U.S. Department of State and espnW partnered to create GSMP: Empower Women through Sports, whose initiative is based on the growing evidence that women and girls who play sports are increasingly likely to excel both on the playing field and in life.
According to research, women and girls’ participation in sports is an important social and economic empowerment tool: 1) Women and girls acquire new professional networks, develop a sense of identity and access new opportunities to become more engaged in school and community life; 2) Sports serve as a vehicle to improve women’s and girls’ leadership roles and participation in decision-making; 3) Sports convene people across borders, cultures and belief systems, and can promote greater tolerance and understanding among individuals and communities; 4) Girls’ participation in sports can challenge gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes; and 5) Studies show a direct correlation between girls’ participation in sports and higher education and employment.
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