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Including Girls Soccer Teams in Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America |
707 Signatures |
Published by anisa adem on Aug 14, 2007
Category: Gender Issues
Region: United States of America
Target: ESFNA: Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America
Web site: http://www.FGAGA.com
Description/History:
In 2008, America is ready to elect a president that’s a woman or black. However, Ethiopians have struggled for five years to include girls teams in a male dominated Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America (ESFNA). Men’s teams have enjoyed playing soccer for 25 years.
The ESFNA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1984 to promote amateur soccer and cultural events within the Ethiopian community in the North America. One of its goals includes providing positive role models for the youth.
The focus of the main event is the men’s soccer tournament. It should be renamed Ethiopian Men’s Soccer Federation in North America (EMSFNA). It contains no girls’ team and the only sport is soccer. The federation doesn’t promote sports to the community year-round. Perhaps, we should create a new organization known as the Ethiopian Women’s Soccer Federation in North America (EWSFNA)
ESFNA, is refusing to include girls and not appreciating the efforts Future Generation African Girls Association has been doing to include girls.
The documentary film production tells the Ewnete (means the truth in Ethiopia) story when our team of girls wanted to be included. The news paper article told our story more than once.
While visiting an Ethiopian festival in Washington, D.C.,
Anisa Adem's daughters watched the men and boys playing soccer. The year wasn't 1970 or any year before Title IX, which provided girls with equal opportunities in sports activities where the organization or education program received Federal funds.
It was 2001 when Adem's American-born daughter asked, "Mommy, why is it that we can't play soccer? Because I see all men – I don't see any women. Is it our culture, or is it Islam?"
Shortly after, Adem put together a girls' soccer team in hopes they would compete in the Annual Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America tournament in Houston. The federation had 27 teams, all men. Adem started two girls' teams and designed their uniforms so they represent the Ethiopian flag. They went to Houston for the tournament only to discover they weren't on the schedule.
The experience motivated Adem to create a non-profit organization to empower girls. She started the Roba Ethiopian American Girls Soccer Association, named after a famous female Ethiopian athlete, Fatima Roba. They prepared for the next tournament, which was in Seattle. The organization has since been renamed as the Future Generation African Girls Association.
The Ethiopian community and the Mayor of Plano supported the organization. Mayor Pat Evans helped the group with publicity and fundraising. The group raised enough funds to cover the expenses of 46 people making the trip to Seattle.
But the story changed upon their arrival. They discovered the girl’s team would have to play a team made up mostly of boys and their game wasn't at the prime time of 3:00 pm as the federation had originally scheduled. Instead, they were to play at 10:00 am, two hours before the other soccer matches started. Undeterred by the constant battles, Adem filed a lawsuit for breach of contract and the court dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning she could refile. Because the federation said it doesn't use the mailing address that appeared on its website -- though the Sheriff's office of Denver successfully delivered a letter to that address -- Adem did not pursue the case. Instead, she decided to produce a video to tell this incredible story in hopes of making a difference. “I was really, really disappointed,” said Adem. “Because if I had known they wouldn't have a girl’s team, we wouldn't have planned to go there. And they didn't have girls except for out team.”
The Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America Association holds its 25th annual soccer tournament in the Washington DC during the week of July 4th in 2008. Will we continue the tradition of shunning a girl's team or make strides? Although the Ethiopian girls and women have enthusiastically supported the tournament, the focus of the main event is the men's soccer tournament. There are 27 men's teams and no women's teams. Furthermore, the organization's board members consist of all men.
Adem thanks:
American Association of University Women
http://www.aauwtexas.org/Plano.html
Women's Sport Foundation
http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/
For more information, contact:
Anisa Adem
Future Generation African Girls Association
3941 Legacy #204
P.O. Box 214-B
Plano, TX 75023
469-583-4423
The ESFNA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1984 to promote amateur soccer and cultural events within the Ethiopian community in the North America. One of its goals includes providing positive role models for the youth.
The focus of the main event is the men’s soccer tournament. It should be renamed Ethiopian Men’s Soccer Federation in North America (EMSFNA). It contains no girls’ team and the only sport is soccer. The federation doesn’t promote sports to the community year-round. Perhaps, we should create a new organization known as the Ethiopian Women’s Soccer Federation in North America (EWSFNA)
ESFNA, is refusing to include girls and not appreciating the efforts Future Generation African Girls Association has been doing to include girls.
The documentary film production tells the Ewnete (means the truth in Ethiopia) story when our team of girls wanted to be included. The news paper article told our story more than once.
While visiting an Ethiopian festival in Washington, D.C.,
Anisa Adem's daughters watched the men and boys playing soccer. The year wasn't 1970 or any year before Title IX, which provided girls with equal opportunities in sports activities where the organization or education program received Federal funds.
It was 2001 when Adem's American-born daughter asked, "Mommy, why is it that we can't play soccer? Because I see all men – I don't see any women. Is it our culture, or is it Islam?"
Shortly after, Adem put together a girls' soccer team in hopes they would compete in the Annual Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America tournament in Houston. The federation had 27 teams, all men. Adem started two girls' teams and designed their uniforms so they represent the Ethiopian flag. They went to Houston for the tournament only to discover they weren't on the schedule.
The experience motivated Adem to create a non-profit organization to empower girls. She started the Roba Ethiopian American Girls Soccer Association, named after a famous female Ethiopian athlete, Fatima Roba. They prepared for the next tournament, which was in Seattle. The organization has since been renamed as the Future Generation African Girls Association.
The Ethiopian community and the Mayor of Plano supported the organization. Mayor Pat Evans helped the group with publicity and fundraising. The group raised enough funds to cover the expenses of 46 people making the trip to Seattle.
But the story changed upon their arrival. They discovered the girl’s team would have to play a team made up mostly of boys and their game wasn't at the prime time of 3:00 pm as the federation had originally scheduled. Instead, they were to play at 10:00 am, two hours before the other soccer matches started. Undeterred by the constant battles, Adem filed a lawsuit for breach of contract and the court dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning she could refile. Because the federation said it doesn't use the mailing address that appeared on its website -- though the Sheriff's office of Denver successfully delivered a letter to that address -- Adem did not pursue the case. Instead, she decided to produce a video to tell this incredible story in hopes of making a difference. “I was really, really disappointed,” said Adem. “Because if I had known they wouldn't have a girl’s team, we wouldn't have planned to go there. And they didn't have girls except for out team.”
The Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America Association holds its 25th annual soccer tournament in the Washington DC during the week of July 4th in 2008. Will we continue the tradition of shunning a girl's team or make strides? Although the Ethiopian girls and women have enthusiastically supported the tournament, the focus of the main event is the men's soccer tournament. There are 27 men's teams and no women's teams. Furthermore, the organization's board members consist of all men.
Adem thanks:
American Association of University Women
http://www.aauwtexas.org/Plano.html
Women's Sport Foundation
http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/
For more information, contact:
Anisa Adem
Future Generation African Girls Association
3941 Legacy #204
P.O. Box 214-B
Plano, TX 75023
469-583-4423
Petition:
We request that the Ethiopian Soccer Federation of North America:
1. Add a girl's soccer bracket to the tournament;
The host city will organize boys’ and girls’ teams from different age groups and different soccer skill levels, and let them play off hours. Currently, there are 27 men’s teams and no women’s teams
2.Give women/girlsboth types of scholarship.
The Federation used to give a $5000 scholarship to only players. As a result of Future Generation African Girls Association (FGAGA) struggles, the Federation added a non-player scholarship in 2007 for all other students of Ethiopian origin who aren’t eligible for a player scholarship. The men/boys have two kinds of scholarship opportunities and the women/girls have one.
3. Add women to the ESFNA executive board;
The organization’s executive board members consist of all men.
4. Add women Board of Directors
The organization’s have 54 board of directors has had only one woman.
5. The focus of the main event should be the youth;
6. Reimburse the expenses incurred for the Seattle soccer tournament trip.
7. ESFNA should apologize in public that mistakes have been made
8. Other cities should have the opportunities to host the tournament Such as St.Paul/Minn
9.. Pay legal expenses.
ESFNA denied that 9123 East Mississippi Avenue, 20-102, Denver Colorado address was not the business address even though it is the address appearing on ESFNA website.
The Summons was delivered at the above address to Kalkidan Hailu Haileyesus said party management agent. The court dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning she could file the case.
10. The Ethiopian people in the USA make the tournament exist for 25 years not the board members. The board should be elected by the people.
11. There should be a term limit.
12. The same family member should not be elected.
13.. ESFNA being a Tax exempt organization should support other non profit organization.ESFNA should give back to the community.
14. Non profit should not pay for the booth
15. The business people are overcharge for the booth, and can not make profit
16. The young generation needs role model
That they can relate, Instead of bringing guest honor from Ethiopia only or honoring the old generation, brings the Ethiopian American role model.
Making empty promises to young girls is inexcusable and excluding women from the game of soccer is unacceptable!
1. Add a girl's soccer bracket to the tournament;
The host city will organize boys’ and girls’ teams from different age groups and different soccer skill levels, and let them play off hours. Currently, there are 27 men’s teams and no women’s teams
2.Give women/girlsboth types of scholarship.
The Federation used to give a $5000 scholarship to only players. As a result of Future Generation African Girls Association (FGAGA) struggles, the Federation added a non-player scholarship in 2007 for all other students of Ethiopian origin who aren’t eligible for a player scholarship. The men/boys have two kinds of scholarship opportunities and the women/girls have one.
3. Add women to the ESFNA executive board;
The organization’s executive board members consist of all men.
4. Add women Board of Directors
The organization’s have 54 board of directors has had only one woman.
5. The focus of the main event should be the youth;
6. Reimburse the expenses incurred for the Seattle soccer tournament trip.
7. ESFNA should apologize in public that mistakes have been made
8. Other cities should have the opportunities to host the tournament Such as St.Paul/Minn
9.. Pay legal expenses.
ESFNA denied that 9123 East Mississippi Avenue, 20-102, Denver Colorado address was not the business address even though it is the address appearing on ESFNA website.
The Summons was delivered at the above address to Kalkidan Hailu Haileyesus said party management agent. The court dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning she could file the case.
10. The Ethiopian people in the USA make the tournament exist for 25 years not the board members. The board should be elected by the people.
11. There should be a term limit.
12. The same family member should not be elected.
13.. ESFNA being a Tax exempt organization should support other non profit organization.ESFNA should give back to the community.
14. Non profit should not pay for the booth
15. The business people are overcharge for the booth, and can not make profit
16. The young generation needs role model
That they can relate, Instead of bringing guest honor from Ethiopia only or honoring the old generation, brings the Ethiopian American role model.
Making empty promises to young girls is inexcusable and excluding women from the game of soccer is unacceptable!
The Including Girls Soccer Teams in Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America petition to ESFNA: Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America was written by anisa adem and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
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