For years, cultural perceptions and structural challenges have limited access to sports for women and girls in Al-Karak. Now, CCK is taking a bold step forward by—creating safe spaces where girls can play, train, and build confidence. While CCK’s long-term vision includes forming a women’s football team and expanding participation in basketball, swimming, and volleyball, its current focus is laying the groundwork for a gender-inclusive sports environment that will inspire generations to come.
Challenging Stereotypes and Advocating for Change
With support from Tamasok’s core funding, CCK is advocating for change and leading a movement. This inspiring organisation has taken great strides in amplifying its advocacy efforts, challenging long-standing stereotypes, and redefining societal attitudes towards women in sports. By leveraging the power of digital media and storytelling, CCK fosters open, community-wide discussions on gender equality in athletics.
But the impact goes far beyond the field. These advocacy efforts serve a larger purpose: to empower young women with leadership skills, strengthen their voices in decision-making spaces, and drive systemic change towards gender inclusivity and a more equitable future. The initiative aligns with the Jordanian National Action Plan (JONAP II) for the Implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (2018-2021), reinforcing women’s roles in peacebuilding and leadership.
Through Tamasok, CCK has been able to:
- Strengthen advocacy and leadership skills. Through dedicated training sessions, young women gain the tools to advocate for their right to participate in sports and engage in community decision-making.
- Amplify voices through digital media. By leveraging social media and storytelling, CCK is evolving the narrative and encouraging wider acceptance of women and girls in sports.
- Foster a strong community support network. The club provides a safe and inclusive environment where girls can connect, support one another, and collectively push for greater gender equity.
Driving Long-Term Impact
CCK’s work is more than just about sports — it’s about building future leaders. When young women step onto the playing field, they also step into leadership roles, learning to advocate for gender equality and becoming powerful voices for change. This transformation is already taking shape. One standout example is the Tamasok-supported Community Women’s Committee (CWC), a group led by young women aged 18 to 24 who are creating real change in their communities. More than just a leadership group, the CWC provides safe spaces where young women can express themselves, develop leadership skills, and actively shape policies and social attitudes towards gender equality. The CWC is part of a wider international campaign, She Leads, which encourages young women and girls to step into decision-making spaces and drive meaningful change. Through leadership training, advocacy, and capacity building, She Leads amplifies their voices — helping to challenge societal norms, influence policies, and redefine leadership.
Programme participants shared how these opportunities have empowered young women in Karak to challenge gender norms and emerge as bold advocates for change.
“Before joining, I never imagined I could have a voice in advocating for my rights. Now, I feel like I’m part of something bigger”. – Campaign participant
From Participation to Leadership
Tamasok also recently funded a capacity building training event that taught CCK employees how to amplify their voices and stories by producing online content and campaigns that extended their local advocacy from physical to online spaces. Equipped with new skills in content creation and campaign development, the team has since launched multiple impactful social media initiatives that bring critical issues to light.
One such social media effort emerged from CWC-led community discussions with women and girls across Al-Karak that identified a pervasive lack of safe recreational spaces for them to play sports, exercise, or simply spend time outside. Consequently, securing these safe spaces and programmes for women and girls became a priority for CWC. The digital CCK ‘Sport and Safety’ campaign, created by CWC members, advocates for all girls to have the freedom to practice sports in an environment that respects their privacy, fosters creativity, and empowers their confidence. This campaign has already achieved significant progress within local communities in Karak.
These sports-based experiences are helping participants build self-assurance, develop critical thinking and teamwork, and gain the tools needed to navigate high-level positions in other aspects of life. For many, the confidence gained through sports and leadership training has sparked a desire to become agents of change who advocate for themselves and others in their communities.
The ripple effect is already visible: CCK is equipping young women with essential skills in teamwork, strategic thinking, and confidence-building — all critical characteristics for broader social and economic participation. By normalising female leadership in sports, CCK is helping to pave the way for increased female involvement in governance, policymaking, and public life.
At the grassroots level, CWC is leading the charge for change by spearheading initiatives and campaigns that actively engage young women in leadership positions that build their capacity to organise community-focused discussions and in-person advocacy dialogue. This ensures that young women’s voices and perspectives are heard and represented within wider policy discussions. For example, with support from Tamasok, CCK recently received funding for podcasting equipment and training. The resulting podcasts focus on female empowerment and women’s rights, providing a digital safe space for women in Karak to share their experiences of gender-based challenges anonymously. The podcast offers a safe space for women’s stories to be heard and acted upon, mirroring and deepening the shared community created by women who meet and train on Karak’s playing fields.
The Road Ahead: Building a Sustainable Sports Movement
The journey towards equality in sports is ongoing, and CCK, with support from the Tamasok Programme, is committed to ensuring its sustainability. Future plans include:
- establishing a five-a-side football pitch that provides a sustainable and safe space for women and girls to engage in sports (dependent on funding and donors);
- expanding local access to structured sports training for young women;
- strengthening partnerships with schools, community organisations, and families to foster a culture of inclusivity within sports;
- engaging policymakers to advocate for policies that promote gender equality in sports locally and nationally.
Tamasok’s flexible core funding has enabled CCK to adapt its strategies and expand its impact, ensuring that this movement continues to grow.
Accelerating Action for Women’s Inclusion
CCK is a powerful example of how sports can drive gender equality. By breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities, women and girls are transforming the sports landscape and contributing to Jordan’s broader peace and security efforts.
With support from the Tamasok Programme — implemented by Chemonics UK in partnership with Generations for Peace and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) — CCK is scaling up its advocacy campaigns, digital outreach, and leadership training to ensure that young female athletes are visible, heard, and empowered.
CCK’s impact demonstrates the power of grassroots activism in advancing gender equality. As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, we call on policymakers, educators, and community leaders to invest in initiatives that create safe and inclusive spaces for women and girls in sports.
Together, we can #AccelerateAction towards a future where every girl has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and play.
Special thanks to Rand Mobideen and Remah Alhabashneh from CCK for their valuable insights and contributions to this feature. Their dedication and firsthand experiences have helped shape a more inclusive sports environment for young women in Al-Karak.
Banner image caption: Participants in Safe Sport Spaces celebrate their journey through sport. Al-Karak, 2024.
