I am excited to be a part of this effort and cannot wait to kick-off!

What inspired you to want to be part of Girls Kick?
This project is a dream born out of two passions: Soccer and education. In my professional life as a classroom teacher and a soccer coach, I’ve been surrounded by girls and young women who kick butt in the classroom and on the soccer fields, empowered by the strong belief that girls can do anything, be anything, and be good at everything. I see Girls Kick playing a part in helping African girls cultivate that same belief and empower them to be whatever they want to be.

What are your hopes and dreams for Girls Kick?
I see this organization becoming global; a platform for our common goal of bridging the gender gap in sport and education. I dream of this being a launch pad for authentic cultural connections that will serve communities here in the US and in Africa.

Can you think of a motto/mantra that would embody Girls Kick’s mission?
Play smart, dream big.

Don’t let anyone tell you that girls can’t!

Aminata R. Sei (Mimi) is a writer and social justice advocate. She is currently working on a creative nonfiction account that will chronicle her lived experiences in Africa, America, and Asia. Mimi attended the University of New . She has showcased essays, as well as written for Huffington Post, and is a member of the critically acclaimed Stanford Alumni Writers’ Critique Group. She has recently penned several articles for Medium.

She is President of the Catlin Gabel School Parent/Faculty Association and Chair of the school’s Board Inclusion and Diversity Committee. She lived in China for four years and was President of the Parent/School Partnership at the Dalian American International School. She is passionate about Inclusion and Equity efforts, especially at educational institutions and is vested in creating safe and welcome spaces to facilitate insightful dialogue and exchange. Giving back to her native Sierra Leone is of keen interest, and she sits on the Board of Surge and Restore, a Portland-based, charitable organization that provides logistics and training for anesthesiology, plastic surgery, and burn-center medical personnel in Sierra Leone. She is also a Board Member of the Northwest Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Resonance Ensemble, and The Africa Sports Venture Group. Ever present in her mind is the significant disparity in standards of living between global north and south countries, and she is committed to bridging these gaps. She is an avid reader, a lover of music and all things African. Mimi lives in Portland, Oregon.
Mimi is a natural on the microphone and is most comfortable in front of an engaging and interactive audience. She is a wine enthusiast, and keeps a decent collection of “Cabs”, she also enjoys an occasional Macassar! She is always happy to engage fellow Sierra Leoneans in Temne, Krio, or Fula, and can dabble in Chinese, and French…at least enough to not get lost in Beijing or Paris.

What inspired you to want to be part of Girls Kick?
The mere mention of girls and soccer in the same sentence relating to any geographical location on the African continent piqued my interest. I am excited to be part of an organization that serves to empower young women by teaching the discipline and camaraderie that’s bound to emerge from Girls Kick. I’m drawn to the idea because it reaffirms that girls’ roles can be more than the stereotypical misfits they have been for years. Girls kick isn’t only about honing futbol skills, it is about capturing the essence and promoting the wellness of the whole girl child.

What are your hopes and dreams for Girls Kick?
I am hoping that this program can create avenues for girls to access countless resources that will help sharpen their skills while instilling confidence and increasing their sense of agency.

I was born in CT and have been fortunate enough to have lived in many parts of the world : Paris, London, Buenos Aires, Denver, and now Vancouver. I have played, coached, and reff’d soccer for a large part of my life. Thanks to my parents, I grew up with the mentality that soccer is the bridge that connects most cultures in the world. I participated in many soccer exchanges with teams from Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and Sweden and those experiences changed my life.

Before becoming a teacher, I spent 6 years in Market Research working in France and London.

I currently teach French at a high school in Vancouver, BC and I coach the cross-country team. As a teacher, I have organized many trips for students to francophone countries.
I’m also raising my three young boys, coaching their youth soccer teams. I am also in the final stages of my Doctorate and should be presenting my dissertation in July which concerns language acquisition.

What inspired you to want to be part of Girls Kick?
Soccer, education, and youth empowerment are huge passions of mine. I want to use my passion to help girls discover and live out theirs. I want them to feel as empowered and supported as I felt growing up. Soccer provided me with a community, a support system, and a motivation to be successful in school. I want that for girls who wouldn’t otherwise have that opportunity. There is so much drive, knowledge and heart on the Girl’s Kick team and I feel honored to learn from our members, and grow with the organization.

What are your hopes and dreams for Girls Kick?
As an organization, we will help girls feel a part of not only a local community, but a global one. I would love to set the goal to eventually expand to multiple parts of the world where girls are not provided the same opportunities as boys. Soccer is a wonderful way to bridge communities as well as provide a community for individuals. My hopes are that members of our program will be inspired to set high aspirations and reach out to our global community for guidance and support.

Can you think of a motto/mantra that would embody Girls Kick’s mission?
Let’s kick for the stars.

MORE INFO COMING SOON

I was born and raised in Connecticut, and while always participating and enjoying sports, have not excelled in any particular sport, although physical activity remains a key part of my daily life to this day. A common thread in my life has been a desire to experience and learn in different cultures different than the one I was born into. Beginning in my high school years, I traveled, lived in and participated in programs in North Wales, Nepal, India, Hong Kong and China. Often, I was the only (or one of a few) Americans in those environments and it gave me several lifelong perspectives that I remain grateful for. I learned, firsthand, about cultures very different than my own. I also learned what it is like to to be in the minority (in Hong Kong I was one of 4 Americans living in a hostel of several hundred Chinese students.) In no way do I claim any equivalency to the terrible and consequential hardships that so many in minority positions have suffered. My experiences were obviously much more benign but the lesson I learned in these situations was that my own perspective was far from the only one – indeed was the minority one, and that continues to help me try to see the world through the eyes of others. And it has shown me that the world is so much bigger than my own world, and that the needs of the world are much greater than my own.

The other thread in my life has been a personal and professional commitment to volunteer and work (through board service as well as professional roles) in the area of youth, education and experiential education. This coalesced when I started The Wilderness Skills Fund that to date, has provided 38 adolescents with scholarships to attend multi-week outdoor programs through Outward Bound and The Student Conservation Association (SCA.)

What inspired you to want to be part of Girls Kick?
I was inspired by the idea of helping to create opportunities for adolescent African girls to grow academically, athletically and to live healthy lives. Having an impact in an area that I had not previously understood – but thanks to Malick am beginning to understand – is inspiring.

What are your hopes and dreams for Girls Kick?
My hope is that Girls Kick will not only impact each girl, but her family and her community and that as Girls Kick grows others will see the power of this model and support it.

I was born and raised in Connecticut where I attended high school and college. I have played sports my whole life and they help define me. In high school I played field hockey, basketball, softball and lacrosse. In college, I played field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. As an adult, I was a USFHA and USLA rated umpire for over 30 years in both field hockey and lacrosse. I also coached lacrosse and basketball in high school settings. I have worked at a girls summer camp in Maine where I ran the Intermediate program (ages 10-12) that encouraged young girls to participate in daily activities including all waterfront activities, tennis, high and low ropes, hiking and many others. I earned a master’s degree from Trinity College (CT) with a focus on sports literature. I have never played soccer, but enjoy watching it. As an adult, I enjoy playing golf, pickleball, hiking, and walking.

I have worked formally as an educator since the fall of 1998. I enjoy working with young people and watching them grow and explore their own capabilities. The most rewarding moments for me are when passion is ignited for an activity or sport, and appreciation for learning is recognized.

What inspired you to want to be part of Girls Kick?
I was inspired by you, Malick, to join in the effort to help adolescent African girls grow academically, athletically and to live healthy lives. I believe in a better education for all young women and am passionate about sports for girls.

What are your hopes and dreams for Girls Kick?
My hopes and dreams for Girls Kick are that it is so successful that it attracts supporters and sponsors who are excited to impact girls, their families, and their communities. I would also like there to be a reciprocal program in the United States composed of young women who play soccer who can influence the girls directly with friendship and support – a sort of pen pal program.

Can you think of a motto/mantra that would embody Girls Kick’s mission?
Get Them to The Field
Kick it Off with Hope