‘Game of Thrones’ star tapped for NIST football event

The event is designed to empower women and the greater community towards meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 
The winning teams from each event meet in New York City for the Global Final during UN General Assembly week and have a chance to raise awareness of causes related to the UN goal they advocate for.
NIST’s Team Big Mango FC features women of more than 10 nationalities and different walks of life and is aiming to advance the cause of quality education.
Team members are united in their belief that quality education – including access to and participation in sport and physical education, is not only a fundamental right – but also a catalyst for promoting other goals.
These would include advancing gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment, encouraging peace, tolerance and respect, including respect for the environment, good health and wellbeing, sustainable community development, and providing access to networks and opportunities for social change.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Quality education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world.”
In the past decade, several studies have shown that when a girl plays sports, she is more likely to perform better in school. When she performs better in school, she makes healthier choices, is more likely to have a high self-esteem and contributes positively to society.
Moreover, girls who play team sports are more likely to graduate from college, find a job, and be employed in male-dominated industries. 
Learning to “own” victory and survive defeat in sports is good training for owning triumphs and surviving setbacks at work. And yet, despite the research, fewer girls than boys participate in athletics, and many who do quit early. 
In Thailand, traditional gender norms and stereotypes are a reminder that biological determinism continues to be a strong, though unspoken influence working against girls’ participation in physical education, especially when it comes to football. 
Designed to challenge these stereotypes and break down discriminatory attitudes and behaviour, the team members are involved in fundraising for the Mercy Centre, which helps Bangkok’s slum communities. It builds and runs schools, improves family health and welfare, protects street children’s rights, combats Aids, responds to daily emergencies and offers shelter to orphans, street children, and children and adults with Aids.
The Big Mango FC team will collaborate with several slum schools and coach girls and boys on non-discrimination and gender equality in sport. Skills such as teamwork, leadership, decision-making, healthy competitive spirit, negotiation, communication, respect for others, confidence, trust building, inclusion, resilience, and social interaction will be taught creatively through football education. 
Big Mango FC has also launched a socialmedia campaign to raise awareness about the importance of quality education in Thailand. Team members will mobilise supporters to take action. 
For donations, get in touch with Big Mango FC by filling out the form here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fMHNMGVNbEZxl8GkVIublN0Ajnwsf1mjIAplyQoqCQ/mobilebasic.