ByEM Programme
Together, We Change the Game
In 2024, Xcalibur Foundation launched ByEM — the Spanish acronym for Bienestar y Empoderamiento de la Mujer (‘Well-being and Women’s Empowerment‘) — our first project within our gender equality programme.The project involves the 24 players of Sport Extremadura CD, together with the club’s sporting staff, and aims to promote the players’ well-being and personal development, both on and off the pitch. It also brings the team’s learning and experiences into schools to encourage young people to take part in sport, raise the profile of women in sport and promote equality through relatable female role models.
Our work combines training, personal development sessions and Service-Learning (SL). Through webinars and workshops on communication, leadership, teamwork and emotional management, as well as individual personal development sessions, participants gain tools to grow both as individuals and as athletes. Their Service-Learning training also enables them to take what they have learnt into schools across the province of Badajoz through talks on sport and equality, becoming female role models and agents of change within their communities.
Our purpose is to improve the players’ well-being and generate a positive impact within the community. Education is the cornerstone of our work and is aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education, which guides our approach across all Xcalibur Foundation projects.
Why do we work in Badajoz?
Women’s participation in sport has progressed in recent years, but differences between women and men remain, particularly in organised and federated sport. According to the latest Survey of Sporting Habits, 59.5% of women practised sport during the previous year, compared with 66.2% of men.
The difference is even more pronounced in federated sport. According to the latest data from Spain’s National Sports Council, only one in four federated sports licences is held by a woman. These figures highlight the importance of continuing to create female role models, opportunities for participation and sporting environments where women and girls can develop on equal terms.
In Extremadura and the province of Badajoz, institutions have also recognised sport as a powerful tool for advancing equality. The Equality Department of Badajoz Provincial Council develops initiatives that use sport to raise awareness of the barriers that continue to affect women and promote equal opportunities.
Through ByEM, we contribute to this goal by first working directly with the footballers to strengthen their well-being, skills and leadership, and then bringing their experiences to girls and boys aged 12 to 15. Having relatable female role models helps girls see new possibilities for themselves, while also encouraging boys to challenge stereotypes and become allies for equality.
Empowerment, Education and Equality
Our work begins with the players themselves. Throughout the programme, they take part in face-to-face workshops and webinars on communication, leadership, emotional management, teamwork and other skills that contribute to their personal development. These sessions provide practical tools that they can apply both in sport and in their everyday lives.
This group learning is complemented by individual personal development sessions led by professionals in psychology and personal development. Diagnostic tools are used to identify each participant’s needs, resources and key areas for development. These include the FORTE positive psychology method developed by IEPP, which uses personal strengths as the starting point for growth. Each player therefore has a dedicated space in which to address her own challenges, develop greater self-awareness, build confidence and gain tools to better manage the situations she encounters both on and off the pitch.
As they progress through the programme, the players also receive training in Service-Learning (SL), an educational methodology that combines learning with responding to real needs within the community. In this way, they do not simply acquire new knowledge: they learn how to turn it into activities that can have a positive impact on others.
This process is then taken into schools across the province of Badajoz. Through initiatives such as the ‘Derribando Muros’ (‘Breaking Down Barriers’) series of talks, the footballers share their experiences with girls and boys aged 12 to 15, exploring themes such as sport, equality, perseverance, cooperation and challenging stereotypes. By becoming relatable role models, the players show teenage girls that there is a place for them in sport, while also encouraging boys to recognise prejudice and play an active role in building a more equal society.
Aligning with the 2030 Goals
At the Foundation, we align our activities with several specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to maximise our impact and contribute to a better future. In order not to lose sight of our overall mission, the main SDG that we address in all our programmes is SDG 4: Quality Education. The specific SDGs of ByEM programme are the following:
3.8 Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life.
5.B Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
8.6 By 2030, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
Who makes ByEM possible?
ByEM is made possible by a network of institutional, sporting and technical partners who share our commitment to women’s well-being, education and equal opportunities.
Since the beginning of the project, we have had the support of the Equality Department of Badajoz Provincial Council, whose involvement in 2024 marked an important milestone for ByEM. This collaboration allows us to expand our initiatives, reach more women, girls and boys, and strengthen our commitment to gender equality. With this support, we develop new activities and resources that promote the participants’ personal and professional growth, with a particular focus on Service-Learning: an educational approach that combines learning with responding to real community needs while fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment to the community.
Sport Extremadura CD is a fundamental part of the project. We particularly value the club’s involvement and its long-standing commitment to social causes and initiatives aimed at empowering different groups within society. The participation of its coaching staff and, above all, its players allows ByEM to evolve from personal development into community action. The footballers themselves transform what they learn through the programme into educational experiences for other children and young people, becoming sporting and social role models.
Our project would not be possible without the collaboration of our implementing partner, Lautestima, and its methodology based on the FORTE method. As Laura Blanco, founder of Lautestima and Programme Director at Xcalibur Foundation, explains: ‘This project is a tribute to the girls, young women and women who, whether in sport or in other areas of life, stand up for their place and pursue their dreams. I am convinced that these players will become role models for future generations, and our mission is to support and encourage their emotional and professional growth so that they can develop as well-rounded individuals, equipped to navigate today’s challenging and rapidly changing society’.
We would also like to highlight the important contribution of the trainers and specialists involved in the project, whose perspectives and experiences can be discovered through our social media channels. They play a crucial role in delivering ByEM, bringing their knowledge, experience and dedication to support participants throughout their personal and professional development.
This network also includes partner organisations such as Quercus, whose support helps make the programme’s different activities possible. Collaboration between institutions, the club, professionals and private organisations enables ByEM to bring together personal well-being, education and equality within a single programme.
Committed to Change
Through ByEM, we are committed to creating a positive and lasting impact within the community. By developing new female role models in sport and promoting values-based education, we work to reduce inequalities, improve health and well-being, and promote gender equality.We believe that every girl and boy deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are dedicated to making this vision a reality.
Join us in this mission and be part of the change we want to see in the world. Together, we can build a better future for the next generation.
