INTERVIEW | Freda Warsal's journey from Santo village to coaching future generations

Deskripsi

In a quiet village, nestled in the northern part of Vanuatu’s Santo Island, a powerful story of courage and resilience is unfolding led by none other than Freda Warsal.

As a young girl, Freda’s passion for football was undeniable. While other girls were expected to stay home and help in the kitchen, Freda had a different calling.

“Every afternoon after school, I’d grab the ball and go play football with the boys,” she recalls. “I didn’t play with the girls, they didn’t play anything. But I loved football. We had passion.”

Freda’s determination made her the first female coach in her village. A community of over 3,000 people where men traditionally led all sporting roles. But she didn’t stop there.

Today, Freda stands at the brink of an inspiring new chapter, being empowered as an accredited coach educator with the mission to lead women only football courses across the five northern regional associations of Vanuatu.

Football, for Freda, is a tool to fight the dangers threatening her community such as drugs and alcohol.

“Football helped me, and now I use it to help the children. Some are shy in school, afraid to speak. But on the field, they find their voice.”

Through football, Freda is building confidence, teaching discipline, and changing lives. She dreams of a future where every child in her village knows what’s possible.

“My dream forever,” she says, “will be accomplished.”