When girls in the WE United Academy in Kathmandu stepped into the goalkeeping position for the first time, they weren’t just learning how to dive and catch a ball; they were learning courage, leadership, and confidence. Moments like these are still rare but powerful, especially in communities where girls are still fighting for equal space and opportunity in sport.
In the autumn of 2025, Aina Kvam, a former professional goalkeeper and current leader in the Norwegian Army, visited Nepal for trekking and to reconnect with friends. During her stay, she discovered WE United, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering girls and women in Nepal through football. What began as a visit soon turned into a meaningful exchange of learning, inspiration, and shared passion for the game.
Aina began playing football at an early age and was drawn to the goalkeeper position because of the confidence, fearlessness, and mental strength she saw in other goalkeepers. As the last line of defence, she explains, a goalkeeper has the power to shift the dynamics of a game and naturally cultivates leadership. She knew she wanted to play as a goalkeeper. For Aina, football has always been more than just a sport, it has been a space to build friendships, enjoy teamwork, and grow.
In December 2025, Aina led two special goalkeeping workshops titled “Train with Aina Kvam ” at two different academies in Kathmandu. The first workshop was hosted at the WE United Academy at Kaasthamandap Futsal, Mandikatar, where weekly sessions take place every Saturday. The workshop was open to all age groups and welcomed 20 participants, including students, office workers, and mothers who joined alongside the players. Participants learned various catching techniques and diving skills while also engaging with Aina through open conversations about her football journey, motivations, growth, and development. For many of the academy players, this was their first time imagining themselves in the goalkeeper’s role. These conversations allowed participants to see goalkeeping not just as a position, but as a pathway to confidence and leadership.
One particularly memorable moment came when one of the academy players, Saesha shared her newfound desire to become a goalkeeper after the session, a reflection of the impact Aina’s workshop had on the players.
The second workshop took place at Asha Vidhyashram School, Balaju, where WE United conducts weekly sessions for around 20 girls from grades 3 to 5. Inspired by the biopic (Anjila) of Nepal Women’s National Team’s goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba, the players eagerly embraced the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of goalkeeping alongside basic football drills. Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn demonstrated both curiosity and growing confidence.
The workshops also highlighted that even after a single session, many girls were eager to step into the goalkeeper role. Previously, we had no players volunteering for this position, and we had to assign goalkeepers and promise that teammates would rotate to play this position. Now, every session features players insisting, “I will be the goalkeeper today!”
These moments show us how exposure, encouragement, and positive role models can open new possibilities for young players. Not only did the players learn from Aina, but our coaches also gained insights on how to teach goalkeeping drills and make training fun.
Aina also attended WE United’s Intra-Academy Tournament on December 13, 2025, an event led and organised by the coaches to create opportunities for players to make new friends, have fun, and experience competitive matches. She observed how the girls displayed confidence during their games, communicated effectively with teammates, and began emerging as leaders on the field. The joy, laughter, and camaraderie throughout the day highlighted the importance of such experiences in building both skills and character.
One especially memorable moment for Aina was when the girls awarded the Sportswomanship Medals to players from other teams, celebrating effort, friendship, respect, teamwork, and courage.
Throughout her visit, Aina was deeply impressed by the dedication of WE United’s coaches and the supportive environment within the academy. She observed how each coach leads by example, serving as a role model for the girls, and was inspired by the players’ hardworking and fearless attitudes.
Reflecting on her time in Nepal, Aina expressed her gratitude for being able to conduct goalkeeping workshops for girls and women. She shared how much fun she had connecting with the players and how inspiring it was to witness an academy led and organised by women coaches. Aina also expressed interest in returning to Nepal in a few years to reconnect with the girls and witness their continued growth and progress.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Aina Kvam for visiting WE United, sharing her expertise in goalkeeping, participating in our Intra-Academy Tournament, and connecting with our coaches and coaches-in-training. Her visit was not only a learning opportunity but also a powerful reminder of how football can connect people across cultures and inspire the next generation of confident, courageous girls.
If you would like to support, contribute, or get involved in empowering girls and women through football, just as Aina did, we would love to hear from you. Please write to us at namaste@theweunitedproject.com.
Aina Kvam is currently a leader in the Norwegian Army whose passion for football began at a young age. She was drawn to the goalkeeper position, knowing that a single, crucial save could prevent a loss and change the course of a match. For Aina, goalkeeping is a mental game; this position also helped her build a fearless mentality and confidence, which went on to help her during her journey as a leader in the army.
