Using soccer as a tool to help women and girls discover their inner strength and unleash their potential, Kiraz Öcal is carving a path toward a better future in Turkey. While soccer is the most common sport in Turkey and in the world, the rate of licensed female players in the country is just one percent. Kiraz recognized the blatant discrepancies, and aspired to make a difference. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a Master of International Human Resource Management.

While thinking about social development, Kiraz decided that soccer could effectively generate conversations around gender-equality in Turkey. In 2014, she became a volunteer for Kızlar Sahada (Women on the Field), a social enterprise that empowers women and girls of all ages through soccer. In 2018, the organization was a finalist in the category of “Best Women’s Football Initiative” at the World Football Summit Industry Awards in Madrid. That same year, Kiraz was officially named co-founder of Kızlar Sahada, which continues to be the only women’s soccer platform in Turkey that offers sustainable solutions for social development and gender equality. In 2019 the Turkish Olympic Committee granted them the “Fairplay Award.”