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25周年紀念號登場！

People

EMPOWERMENT

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Beauty & Wellness

LifeStyle

#### **Malala Yousafzai's Vision for Women's Sports**
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner at 17, has long championed girls' education. Now, at 27, she's tackling women's sports with the Recess Initiative, launched on June 24, 2025, at the Billie Jean King Power of Women's Sport Summit in London. Co-founded with her husband, Asser Malik, a former cricket franchise manager, Recess aims to remove barriers to girls' sports access and promote gender equality in athletics, proving that empowerment can thrive on the playing field as much as in the classroom.

#### **Roots in Advocacy**
Growing up in Pakistan's Swat Valley, Malala saw stark gender disparity. While boys dominated cricket fields during school recess, girls were sidelined. This inequality inspired her lifelong fight for gender equity in sports. At 15, she survived a Taliban attack for advocating girls' education, later founding the Malala Fund in 2013 to amplify education opportunities globally. In 2014, she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient at 17, cementing her as a global leader of human rights. Recess extends this mission by empowering women and girls through sport.

#### **What is the Recess Initiative?**
The Recess Initiative addresses barriers to women's sports participation with three core objectives:

#### **1.	Investing in Major Leagues**
Recess supports the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2024, the NWSL games drew 2 million fans, marking a 40% increase from 2023. The championship games attracted nearly a million viewers, an 18% rise from the prior year. Meanwhile, the WNBA is also riding a wave of popularity, with stars like Caitlin Clark drawing unprecedented attention.

#### **2.	Grassroots Growth** 
The dropout rate of girls from sports is twice that of boys by age 14 due to stigma and limited resources. Recess seeks to expand access to fields, coaching, and opportunities, particularly in underserved regions.

#### **3.	Commercial Viability** 
Proving women's sports are a lucrative investment, with advisors like Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss guiding the initiative. King, a longtime champion of gender equity, has stakes in teams like Angel City FC in the NWSL, reinforcing the initiative's credibility. Together, they aim to fundamentally alter ownership in the sports industry.
Malala and Malik's global tour of women's sports events, from Australian cricket to English rugby, has reinforced their belief in sports as a unifying force. 

##### **Blending Business and Women's Sports Empowerment**
Recess blends advocacy with a business model, attracting investment to women's sports while promoting inclusion. Billie Jean King's expertise helps Recess reshape ownership from fields to boardrooms. By spotlighting athletes like Caitlin Clark or the Afghan women's soccer team, whom Malala met at the 2023 Women's World Cup, Recess highlights role models who inspire change.

#### **Global Impact and Local Change**
Recess aligns with the Malala Fund's $50 million pledge for girls' education in countries like Nigeria. While the fund focuses on classrooms, Recess champions growth through play, reflecting how girls learn and thrive. By providing resources in underserved regions, it creates a ripple effect of opportunity. 

#### **Why Women's Sports Matter**
The NWSL's 2024 viewership surge underscores the commercial and social potential of women's sports. Recess seeks to amplify this, ensuring girls everywhere can step onto the field with confidence. More than an investment platform; it's a call to action for a world where girls' participation is not just allowed but celebrated. As Malala continues to challenge structures that limit women, Recess stands as a testament to her unwavering belief that when girls play, they win, transforming not only sports but society at large.

Caroline Tam

English Editor 

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Malala's Recess Initiative: Boosting Women's Sports and Equality

#### Insights – setting your yearly wellness plan

On the afternoon of January 24th, Petticoat Lane in Central Hong Kong became a focal point for women's health and fitness with the "Women's Wellness in One" fair organized by The Women Entrepreneurs Network. This inaugural event drew diverse participants keen to gain insights into female-specific wellness.

The event was kickstarted by a compelling keynote from Tricia Yap, Founder of Limitless, who shared her experiences and learning from coaching 8000 women, and Michelle Harris on setting intentions, led to a motivational tone for the day.

#### Diverse Perspectives on Wellness

The event featured enriching panel discussions, bringing together various women's health and wellness experts.

**Emotional Fitness for an Optimized Life**: Moderated by Shirralee Sisson, this panel included Stephanie Ng, Founder & Executive Director of Body Banter, Kathryn Gale, Psychologist & Mindfulness Meditation Coach at Joint Dynamics, and Angela A Watkins, Head Counsellor at Red Door Counselling. They provided valuable insights into mental and emotional health.

**Nutrition & Training for Every Life Stage**: This panel, focusing on physical health and nutrition, featured Lisa Tarquini from The Menopause Space, Candice Chan from LifeHub and Zupe, Aislinn Macphail, Orthopedic and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, and Jill Marshall, Founder of Pause Cafe & Studio. Their discussion covered holistic approaches to nutrition and fitness across different stages of a woman's life.


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#### Interactive Fair and Personalized Advice

The curated fair of health practitioners and coaches was a unique aspect of the event. Attendees engaged directly with professionals for personalized advice, making the experience interactive and tailored. The event concluded with a happy hour, fostering networking among attendees and speakers and providing a platform for building a supportive community focused on women's health and wellness.

In reflection, Michelle Harris wrote on LinkedIn: 'It was a pleasure to share [insights during] the Setting Intentions session... Such a great afternoon! Lovely to meet so many new faces and reconnect to those not seen in a while.' She commended the panel discussions and the diverse array of practitioners. Special gratitude was extended to Devi, Tricia Yap, and Shirralee for their tireless efforts in orchestrating this impactful event.

The "Women's Wellness in One" fair at Petticoat Lane was a pioneering step towards enhancing women's wellness in Hong Kong, promising a brighter future for female health and empowerment.

Text: Jeremy Chapnick
Photos: Michelle Harris, The Women Entrepreneurs Network

_JESSICA 2024_


JESSICA 會員

Highlights from the Women's Wellness in One Event at Petticoat Lane

Insights – setting your yearly wellness plan

Diverse Perspectives on Wellness

Interactive Fair and Personalized Advice