Girls of Slettebakken – Play, Grow, Belong

Children & youth

May 8

Written By Annikken Grieg Sæthre

Who: Bergensdalen Idrettslag

What: Girls of Slettebakken – Play, Grow, Belong

Where: Bergen

Project period: 2025

About the project

Bergensdalen Idrettslag is an inclusive grassroots sports club located in Slettebakken, deeply committed to providing all children – regardless of background – with the opportunity to participate in organized sports. The club places particular emphasis on ensuring that girls have equal access to football and to being part of a social and supportive community.

Årstad is a socioeconomically challenged borough, where the City of Bergen has initiated a major area-based revitalization effort. At the same time, many residents experience Slettebakken as an attractive place to live, enriched by a multicultural community where children learn early on to value and respect diversity.

However, in this area with many multilingual families, it has been challenging to engage children – especially girls – in organized leisure activities. Research indicates that reasons for the underrepresentation of girls with immigrant backgrounds in sports often include financial barriers, cultural expectations, and a lack of suitable opportunities.

Participation in sports at Slettebakken has increased thanks to the LIM project (Lekser, Idrett og Mat – Homework, Sports and Meals), a low-threshold, free after-school program run in collaboration between the school and local sports clubs. The goal of the club is to strengthen and grow participation in organized sports – such as within the Girls 2014 (G2014) football team.

The number of players on the G2014 grew significantly in 2023–24, nearly doubling in size. As of 2025, G2014 will field two teams in their age category.

The overall goal of the G2014 project is to keep the girls engaged in football, support the development of the team both socially and athletically, and recruit new players. The team is supported by a dedicated group of parents volunteering as coaches and team helpers.

To further strengthen the sense of community, the group aims to register two teams for Voss Cup, participate in more tournaments, and organize social events for players and families. One objective is to involve even more parents in team activities. The girls themselves contribute through fundraising and volunteer efforts.

To ensure participation is not limited by financial means, the club will cover necessary expenses for items like football boots, shin guards, and training clothes.

This project aims to contribute to a lasting football program for girls at Slettebakken. It promotes inclusion and supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal no. 10: Reduced Inequalities.

About the organization

Bergensdalen Idrettslag (BD IL) was established on February 1, 2025, through a merger of three well-established clubs: Bergen Håndballklubb, Sportsklubben Trane, and Årstad Idrettslag. The merger was a strategic decision aimed at strengthening the sports offering in Bergensdalen by pooling resources and expertise.

The new club has a clear vision: to make a positive impact on the lives of children and youth in Bergensdalen through sport. Its core values are to foster an environment of respect, equal opportunities, and community spirit, where engagement and positive interaction drive participants forward – both on and off the field.

BD IL offers activities in football and handball, and currently has over 1,100 members.

Since the early 2000s, Sportsklubben Trane has played a key role as a community actor in Slettebakken, helping to develop and maintain a broad range of local offerings – including LIM (Homework, Sports and Meals), a free after-school program for 5th to 7th graders, in close cooperation with the local school.