Awarded the title of Champion of Peace 2025 by Peace and Sport, Grace Geyoro has been recognized for both her sporting achievements and her commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. The French international, who now plays for London City Lionesses, has been involved in charitable work for several years. In 2025, she took a decisive step forward by founding her association, Pow-Her, Be Gr8, with the ambition of using sport as a tool for education, social cohesion and inclusion. Supported by Peace and Sport and JJPC – Je Joue pour le Congo, she has given her convictions a new structure and broader scope.
At the age of 28, the midfielder is entering a new phase of her career. Based in London to take on a new sporting challenge, she is also launching a project that is particularly close to her heart. The name of her association sounds like a call to determination: literally “the power to be great.” By including the pronoun “Her,” the project explicitly places women at the center of its mission. The number “8” refers to her iconic jersey number, worn both with the French national team and Paris Saint-Germain, the club where she played for more than a decade.
Although Pow-Her, Be Gr8 was officially launched in 2025, Grace Geyoro’s commitment is nothing new. Before the association was created, she was already leading personal initiatives through the Geyoro Tour, reaching out to amateur football to promote young talent, particularly young girls who find in sport a space for expression and empowerment. At the same time, she regularly visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, her country of birth, to support children facing complex social realities. The creation of the association reflects her desire to structure these actions and give them coherence and continuity.
“With my association, we seek to promote sport, culture and literature through my comic book, which I launched in May 2025,” she explains. Through these different tools, the objective is clear: “With all these means, the aim is to promote social and professional integration for people in difficulty.” The association focuses primarily on young people and advocates access to sport as a driver of social and personal empowerment. This vision resonates closely with that of Peace and Sport.
On the field, the first initiatives are gradually being rolled out through sports programs, educational projects and local support. Pow-Her, Be Gr8 aims to lay the foundations for sustainable initiatives designed to meet local needs. This commitment also involves concrete actions, as Grace explains: “I also visited an orphanage in December to bring food and essential supplies. We distribute food donations, clothing, books: everything they need. These are simple things we can do.”
Still in the process of being structured, Pow-Her, Be Gr8, together with Peace and Sport, conducted an exploratory mission between Kinshasa and Lubumbashi to identify local needs and initiate sustainable partnerships. On this occasion, Grace Geyoro discovered the Malaika institution, which provides free education and access to sport for hundreds of young girls.
“I went to Lubumbashi to visit a school called Malaika. This school focuses on supporting young girls who face difficulties developing as women, while also giving them access to education and sport, particularly football.”
It was a defining experience that helped shape the future direction of her commitment.
In the DRC, she understood the importance of developing projects centered on education, social cohesion and inclusion, in a context where sports infrastructure remains limited.
“I have travelled a lot. I was born in Congo, but I left for France at the age of two. It was when I turned 20 that I realized I wanted to help my country of origin. Obviously, my fame made things easier.”
Aware that she has benefited from decisive opportunities, she now wants to pass on what she has learned. In this dynamic, she also relies on locally engaged organizations, such as Je Joue pour le Congo (JJPC), which supports Congolese athletes in their social and humanitarian initiatives.
Peace and Sport’s support provides her with a structured framework.
“It gives me security because they are used to working on these projects and dealing with the realities on the ground. Their support and follow-up are essential for top-level athletes.”
Highly committed to her career and her family life, Grace Geyoro must juggle a demanding schedule.
“I can’t do it alone, especially with my schedule as a top-level athlete. With Peace and Sport and JJPC, we are preparing future projects together. They are there to exchange ideas and offer advice. It’s a support I can rely on.”
Pow-Her, Be Gr8 is still a young organization, but the ambition is clear. Among the initiatives being considered are the construction of a football pitch to provide free access to sport, hosting girls’ teams and even creating an academy. All of these projects reflect a desire to pass on knowledge and empower others.
This ambition is also reflected in her comic book, Croire en ses rêves (Believe in Your Dreams), which recounts her journey and encourages young people to believe in their abilities.
Through sport, culture and education, Grace Geyoro demonstrates a commitment that goes far beyond the pitch. It is a journey in which performance and responsibility now go hand in hand.
Discover Pow-Her the documentary
This article is part of the upcoming Peace and Sport – Le Magazine. Stay tuned for the full release coming this March.
