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At Oasis Sport Club in Nduba, Gasabo District, a new changing room represents more than an additional facility. It is a step towards breaking barriers to girls' participation in sport by promoting dignity, privacy and equal opportunities. Here’s a look back at the inauguration, which took place on October 25, 2026.
A need that could no longer be overlooked
Before the launch of the All Girls in Sport program, a diagnostic study was conducted involving 382 girls, both in and out of school, including 157 girls with disabilities, to better understand their participation in sport and the barriers they face.
The findings revealed significant challenges: nearly 7 out of 10 girls reported limited access to sports equipment, while 44% expressed fear of participating in mixed-gender sporting activities due to the risk of being teased, bullied or judged by boys. The absence of dedicated changing spaces also emerged as an important concern, particularly when girls needed privacy to change or a suitable place to manage unexpected menstrual needs.
These findings highlighted that encouraging girl to participate in sport requires more than providing a ball, sport wears, a playing field or an opportunity to join a team. It also means creating an environment where they feel safe, comfortable, respected and supported throughout their sporting experience.
Recognizing that some of the barriers girls face extend beyond the playing field, PLAY International Rwanda identified the need for safe, private and dignified spaces where girls could change before and after training and manage their menstrual needs with dignity.
It is against this backdrop that the decision was made to invest in a Safe Space Changing Room: a practical response to the needs identified and an important step towards creating a more inclusive sporting environment where girls can participate with greater confidence and dignity.
Why Oasis Sport Club?
The choice of Oasis Sport Club in Nduba, Gasabo District, was not incidental. The centre stood out for its encouraging growth in girls' participation in sport, increasing from 63 to 160 girls, as well as its potential to reach and engage even more children and young people. Today, Oasis accommodates more than 500 children and young people daily during holidays and weekends, ranging in age from 5 to 20 years old, making it an important sporting and recreational hub for the surrounding community.
Located in a rural setting where access to water and adequate recreational infrastructure remains limited, Oasis provides valuable opportunities for children and young people to engage in sport and physical activities. The centre is equipped with sports pitches and playgrounds for different disciplines, offering a space where children can develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy the benefits of sport.
However, despite these facilities and the growing number of girls participating, one important gap remained: the centre had only one shared changing room for both girls and boys. This arrangement did not provide girls with the privacy and comfort they needed, making it difficult
for them to feel fully at ease when changing before or after sporting activities.
The growing participation of girls made addressing this gap increasingly important. They needed a dedicated space where their privacy would be respected, where they could change comfortably and where they could manage their menstrual needs with dignity.
Investing in Oasis therefore meant more than adding another facility to the center. It meant responding to an identified need, keeping pace with the growing participation of girls and supporting a community sporting space that was already demonstrating its potential to make sport more accessible to children and young people.
From an identified need to a shared achievement
The journey from identifying this need to establishing the facility reached an important milestone with the inauguration of the new Safe Space Changing Room at Oasis Sport Club.
The occasion brought together representatives from the Embassy of France in Rwanda, the French Development Agency (AFD), GIZ, the Ministry of Sports, local authorities, police representatives, parents and members of the community. The presence of one of our role models MUNEZERO Valentine, captain of Rwanda's national volleyball team, also brought an inspiring example of what girls can achieve when they are given opportunities to participate and thrive in sport.
Beyond the formal inauguration, the event was an opportunity to reflect on the importance of creating sporting environments that respond to girls' specific needs and protect their dignity.
The facility marks a shared commitment to making sports spaces more welcoming, inclusive and responsive to the realities girls face.
What will change for the girls?
A changing room may seem like a simple piece of infrastructure, but for the girls at Oasis, it can make a meaningful difference.
With a dedicated space, girls will have greater privacy and comfort when changing before and after training. They will no longer have to navigate the challenges associated with the absence of an appropriate changing facility.
More importantly, the space contributes to building an environment where girls feel that their needs are recognized, their dignity is respected and their participation matters.
It is also a reminder that encouraging girls to play sport goes beyond inviting them onto the field. It requires creating the conditions that allow them to participate regularly, confidently and safely.
The new facility is therefore not an end in itself. It is part of a broader effort to break down barriers to girls' participation and strengthen the conditions that enable them to enjoy the benefits of sport.
A space for confidence, dignity and opportunity
At Oasis Sport Club, the transformation is visible: a space that previously lacked a dedicated changing facility now has one designed to respond to the needs of its growing number of girls.
But the most important transformation will be seen in the experiences of the girls who use it: feeling more comfortable, having their privacy respected and enjoying a sporting environment where they belong.
Creating opportunities for girls in sport is not only about giving them a place to play. It is also about ensuring they have the facilities, protection and support they need to thrive.
One changing room, one important step towards a more inclusive sporting environment where every girl can participate with confidence and dignity.
This initiative is implemented by PLAY International Rwanda through the Toutes En Sport program.
