Pedaling Toward Change: Sohayla Chentouf's Mission to Empower Girls Through Cycling

^{TAFISA is collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through its Olympism365 strategy to initiate a global framework dedicated to fostering community empowerment and development through capacity building in Sport for All, known as SUCCEED (Supporting Communities Empowerment & Development through Sport for All). The SUCCEED series highlights inspiring stories of individuals and communities positively impacted by training and capacity building provided within the SUCCEED framework. Through these stories, we aim to showcase the transformative power of capacity building in sports, emphasizing how it fosters inclusivity, empowers marginalized groups, and strengthens community resilience.}

At just 20 years old, Sohayla Chentouf is already blazing trails both on the road and in the world of sport entrepreneurship. From Tangier, a city in the north of Morocco, she is a business management student, an athlete specializing in road bike racing, and the current manager of MJ Bike Morocco – Tangier, a Moroccan bicycle brand offering high-quality bikes that promote eco-friendly transportation, and sustainable tourism.

But Sohayla's ambitions extend beyond competitive cycling. She is currently enrolled in the TIBU Africa Sports Orange Corners program, a six-month program aimed at equipping young people with the skills to turn their ideas into viable businesses. Her project, “GirsCycles,” is focused on providing bike rentals and guided tours for girls in a safe, empowering, and fun environment, with specially equipped bikes tailored to their needs.

The Women’s Leadership in Sport for All Training

On 3-4 April, Sohayla attended the Women’s Sport for All Leadership Training in Casablanca, Morocco. The training, designed by TAFISA, hosted by TIBU Africa, and supported by the UNESCO Participation Program, attracted 27 inspiring young women from diverse backgrounds, all driven by a shared passion for Sport for All and leadership. Through highly interactive sessions, participants explored topics including transformational leadership, global and local perspectives on women, sport advocacy, strategic communication, navigating gender dynamics in sports ecosystems, and designing Gender-sensitive Sport for All initiatives.

The training culminated in the pairing of mentees and mentors who will embark on a 6-month mentorship journey, fostering continued growth, learning, and support as these young leaders rise within their communities and beyond.

Describing her experience at the training, Sohayla doesn’t hold back: “It was the best! It was more than amazing – it gave me a voice.” What made the experience so transformative for her wasn’t just the professional guidance, but the space it provided for authentic exchange, talking about passions, challenges, and personal stories. "After the training," she shares, "I knew I had to do more, speak up more, and rider further so that people can hear me ; and I’m ready to do more!"

Post-Training Aspirations and Community Impact

The training inspired Sohayla not just to dream big, but to act. “This training gave me the right to talk and share my skills and experiences within my projects,” she says, emphasizing the confidence and clarity she gained.

Through the training, she plans to make a tangible impact on her community, particularly among girls in Tangier. “In the north of Morocco, a lot of girls don’t know how to ride a bike. But once they learn, their world opens up. They can go to school, train, race, explore. A bicycle becomes a bridge to new possibilities.” For Sohayla, a bicycle isn’t just a mode of transport; it’s a tool of empowerment. “Teaching them to ride a bike is empowering them so that they can go and do more things.”

About SUCCEED

The SUCCEED (Supporting Communities Empowerment & Development through Sport for All) is a global framework dedicated to fostering community empowerment and development through capacity building in Sport for All. Led by TAFISA in collaboration with the IOC through its Olympism 365 strategy, SUCCEED aims to provide a unified and synergistic approach towards building the capacity of Sport for All stakeholders. 

At its core, SUCCEED is committed to capacity building approaches that promote solidarity, safeguarding, equality, inclusion, human rights, and sustainable progress in and through sport within communities globally. By integrating the Women’s Sport for All Leadership Training into the SUCCEED framework and through strategic collaboration with various sports and non-profit organizations that supports concerted efforts, SUCCEED aims to scale the reach and impact of Sport for All capacity building initiatives. This will contribute to a lasting positive impact in communities through sport, fostering social cohesion, health, and well-being across diverse cultural and socioeconomic landscapes.