Ahead of International Women’s Day, West Ham United women's team stars Viviane Asseyi and Hawa Cissoko made the short trip to Cleves Primary School to attend an assembly igniting inspiration among the young students with stories about their footballing careers.
In the heart of the West Ham United community, Cleves Primary boasts a special relationship with the Hammers.
Located just a stone’s throw away from the Club’s former home in Upton Park, the school benefits from the full-time delivery of the WHU Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme.
Funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme uses the power of football to engage children in the school curriculum, building confidence and positive relationships among the students, as well as raising aspirations.
In addition to regular term-time delivery, the Foundation also delivers educational workshops, aligning learning outcomes to important awareness dates.
The player appearance was an opportunity for the students to learn more about the achievements and contributions of women everywhere, with an emphasis on the world of sport.
Speaking about the progress of the women’s game in terms of viewership and uptake in participation at grassroots level, Cissoko said: “The increase in interest is really positive in the UK. My hope for the future is to see this trend in other countries as well, where women are restricted from playing football. I hope this is going to be changed.
“Sport holds so much potential to empower girls and women and it can be a life changer in countries where gender discrimination and inequality are widespread.”
During the Q&A session, the French duo candidly reflected on their experiences of joining West Ham, having to not only quickly adapt to a new culture, but also learn a new language.
Cissoko said: “I hope they understand that the journey to becoming an elite athlete is full of challenges. You have to work for it.
“The key message from me to them is to not be afraid. Vivi and I moved here from our home country in France without speaking English. To get what you want you have to be brave and just go out there and get it.”
Finally, reflecting on the learning outcomes, WHU Foundation Premier League Primary Stars Lead Rebecca Trott concluded: “We have a lot of young girls in our partner schools who are playing in the school team or engaging in after-school football activities. We want these girls to believe in themselves, to know that they belong in the world of sports, and to chase after their goals with the same passion and determination Vivi and Hawa spoke about today.
“Having role models like them at our schools sends a powerful message: no dream is too big, and with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.”
