Today's players. Tomorrow's leaders.

In South Africa the consequences of harmful gender norms are severe, particularly for girls. These power imbalances result in widespread acceptance of violence against women, and low self-esteem, early exposure to sex and increased risk of HIV. In Khayelitsha alone, a reported 15.1% of girls aged 16 to 18 have dropped out of school, for reasons including poverty, family commitments, performance, disability, illness and teenage pregnancy.

Khayelitsha’s first all-girls football team, Resilient and Victorious United Women’s Football Club (RV United), was founded in 2011 under Grassroot Soccer, an international NGO that connects youth with life saving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV prevention information using the language of sport. At the conclusion of SKILLZ Girl, Grassroot Soccer's girls-only after-school intervention, the young girls wanted to keep playing football but had no opportunity to do so. Seven girls encouraged the organisation to provide them with the opportunity to follow their passion and become footballers, and RV United was born. RV United was founded with the mission to inspire young women in Khayelitsha to become leaders in life and football, and to become a well-known and respected team in the South African Football Association (SAFA) and SASOL League.

RV United has two divisions, junior and SASOL League, and uses football to encourage physical health, self-esteem and equitable gender norms for girls and young women.

The team takes a holistic approach to player development, and Senior RV players coach younger female players in football skills, confidence, health and school performance.

RV United joined the SASOL League in March 2015. In our first season, the team took home the Western Cape Provincial Coca-Cola Cup and has placed second in three additional Provincial Cups.

To fundraise for the team, matches and community development activities, Senior RV players also make and sell Ragballs - handmade soccer balls made from local, recycled materials.

RV United is supported by Grassroot Soccer, Cityzens Giving & the International Premier League Development Fund, Putney Student Travel, Noble and Greenough School, Reciprocity, London Business School, Equal Playing Field, Ragball International, and many generous individual donors.

On behalf of RV United's 60 players, a sincere thanks to all of our supporters. We couldn't do it without you!