Tabitha Chawinga highlights importance of FIFA Player Impact Programme

Malawi women’s football star Tabitha Chawinga has highlighted the importance of the FIFA Player Impact Programme in addressing the needs and challenges of women footballers.

The Olympique Lyonnes striker is part of the 14-member world’s most influential female footballers participating in the inaugural FIFA Player Impact Programme. The objective of the initiative is to empower female professional footballers to leverage their platforms, voices, and resources for positive social change.

“Most of us dream of making a meaningful impact in our communities—giving back to the very people who witnessed our struggles and our poverty, and showing them that a better world is possible, that every child’s dream matters. All it takes is igniting a spark within them and offering a platform, just as I did for my sister Temwa, revealing undeniable champions,” Tabitha said.

“Being part of FIFA has strengthened my vision of creating this opportunity for girls in Malawi with FIFA’s support. I will not rest until every Malawian girl believes in her potential for greatness through football.”

What is involved in the FIFA Impact Programme

The programme allows the players to design and lead their own social impact initiatives drawing from personal experiences on and off the pitch.

The footballers are focusing on initiatives to empower female footballers such as supporting female leaders or single mums and expanding girls’ football academies.

FIFA Player Impact Programme empowers women’s footballers to drive positive social change

⚽🏃‍♀14 players given opportunity to design and lead their own social impact initiatives

🗣FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis: “It’s about supporting players to amplify their voices… pic.twitter.com/YuuFYkFcis

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) November 28, 2025

By channelling their influence into action, the programme is helping some of the sport’s biggest names create real, lasting change, reflecting FIFA’s commitment to expanding opportunity and access for women and girls around the world.

One such footballer who is part of the programme is Canadian women’s football stalwart Kadeisha Buchanan, who runs a foundation to provide football opportunities for single mothers and their daughters in Canada.

“My foundation is built to create pathways through soccer,” she told FIFA media. “So, being able to grant them funds for registration fees, travel costs and stuff like that, but also, it extends off the field, we’ll be able to provide mentorship. Obviously, the funds are going elsewhere in their families’ lives like rent and living expenses, so they don’t have the extra money to do fun things.

After three months of training and support, the 14-member cohort members met in London in November to pitch their social impact ideas to a panel.

The pitches, presented to FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis; former Afghanistan international and foundation founder Khalida Popal and Olivia Hall, philanthropist and founder of Firebird Collective, triggered seed funding from FIFA enabling players to execute their initiatives.

“I’ve been blown away to hear how thoughtful their projects are, how meaningful they are to them, and the actual impact of what they’re trying to do,” Ellis told FIFA media. “The players’ legacy on the pitch is established, but how do we help them build their legacy off the pitch? How can they impact the communities they come from?

Chawinga is among only two Africans on the panel alongside Gaelle Enganamouit with the rest of the panelists being from Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, France and Jamaica.