Jessica Wu spent her early years in Marawi City, Philippines, where Muslim insurgents and government forces regularly clashed. When she was young, her parents were forced to move their family to Iligan, a buffer zone between the conflict regions. Jessica sought out an escape through sports. While earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and later a certificate in women’s studies, soccer was a constant comfort for her. “For the first time in my entire life, I was appreciated,” Jessica says. “I realized sport could offer me support and could help anyone who suffered the same horrible things I did growing up.”

Jessica credits her time as an athlete for building self-confidence, and empowering her to stand up and become a voice for women. Through her work with “Let’s Do It! Philippines,” the ASA Foundation, and the Asian Soccer Academy, Jessica continues advocating for women’s rights and empowering women in her country. She has implemented several soccer clinics focused on conflict resolution for girls from impoverished communities or girls who are secondary victims of domestic abuse.