Goal programme expanded to help a further 500,000 young girls

The programme helps equip girls with necessary life skills, education and confidence

Standard Chartered has announced a commitment to empower a further 500,000 disadvantaged girls through Goal, the Bank’s flagship sport-for-development programme that provides financial education and life skills training to girls aged between 12 and 20.

Goal, launched by Standard Chartered in 2006, will reach 89,000 girls through its partnerships with local and international NGOs in India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Zambia, Tanzania and Nigeria by the end of the year. This new commitment aims to make significantly more impact by reaching a further 500,000 girls from low-income communities across Asia, Africa and the Middle East by the end of 2018.  Expansion will not be limited to countries where Goal is already running, though – the programme’s impact will expand to Myanmar over the coming months. 

In addition to increasing the scale of Goal, Standard Chartered will also extend the potential to empower young girls through integrating workplace development and employability more heavily in the programme, for example by arranging placements and internships within Standard Chartered, as well as clients and suppliers.

Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, said: “In the seven years since Goal was first launched, the programme has helped young girls think about their future in a different way.  By combining sports with education, the programme helps equip girls with necessary life skills, education and confidence.  In many of our markets, there is massive latent potential waiting to be unlocked – by expanding the reach of our Goal programme to even more girls across low-income communities, we hope to provide them with the right tools and knowledge to make informed choices as they move into adulthood, and to empower them to be more active economic participants in their communities.”

This new commitment for Goal was revealed at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative, an annual event hosted by former US President Bill Clinton that brings together, with the aim of creating positive social change, heads of state, Nobel Prize laureates, leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, and major philanthropists. The commitment to expand its Goal programme is part of Standard Chartered’s membership pledge to make commitments that focus on addressing a significant global challenge.

For further information please contact:

Neema Patel 
Media Relations Manager  
Tel: +44(0) 20 7885 6239
Email: neema.patel@sc.com

Notes to Editors

Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,300 commitments, which have improved the lives of over 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at more than $73.1 billion.