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Nike EMEA and empowerment brand Rebel Girls have formed a partnership to create content that celebrates female soccer players from around the world and is intended to inspire young girls.
The content, which first debuted Saturday, July 2, is being released in concert with the UEFA European Women’s Championship, which kicks off Wednesday, July 6 and runs through Sunday, July 31, and for which Nike is an official sponsor. The campaign will remain available through the beginning of September.
The content-based campaign, called “Game-Changing Footballers,” includes original stories and illustrations of female athletes who are sponsored by Nike and playing in the European tournament. These athletes include such players as Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg, the first female soccer player to have been awarded France’s Ballon D’Or; French striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto; captain of the English national team Leah Williamson; Italian forward Barbara Bonansea and eight more.
The content lives on the Nike website at Nike.com/play and on the Rebel Girls website and app. Besides online stories and illustrations, there is also a seven-part podcast available on the Rebel Girls app.
Rebel Girls got its start after the 2016 publication of a book for girls aged 6-9 called “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls,” which includes 100 stories of inspiring women such as Malala Yousafzai, Alicia Alonso, Manal al-Sharif, Irena Sendlerowa and Lella Lombardi. Since the publication of the first book, authors Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo have put out three more editions. An entire brand, website and now, app, has also been built around the concepts put forth in the first book.
Along those lines, in collaboration with Nike, Rebel Girls is producing a limited-edition book, “Rebel Girls: Game-Changing Footballers, 12 Thrilling Stories of Female Athletes.” Nike will distribute 20,000 free copies of the book to kids in Nike retail stores and partner stores across the greater London area and various schools across the UK.
“The women in this book are an inspiration as they set new levels of performance and break barriers on the journey to create an equal playing field. Not only are they inspiring young and old with their ability, passion and team spirit but are genuinely committed to making a difference for the next generation of football players,” said Kim van Dijk, vice president, Nike EMEA Kids, in a statement.
“As we celebrate twelve women footballers from ten countries with Nike in ‘Rebel Girls: Game Changing Footballers,’ we empower girls to see themselves as champions as we amplify the barrier-breaking achievements of women athletes around the world. Rebel Girls is proud to partner with Nike to bring our innovative, empowering storytelling to girls across the globe,” said Jes Wolfe, Rebel Girls CEO, also in a statement.