Republic Bank/VMFA kicks off all-girls camp

The Republic Bank-sponsored Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) All-Girls Football Summer Camp got underway on Monday at the St Stanislaus College Ground on Carifesta Avenue, bringing together young female footballers for five days of training, development, and education.
The annual camp, which caters for girls between the ages of six and 16, will run until August 14 and continues the Vurlon Mills Academy’s commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for young girls to enter and develop within the sport.
Republic Bank, the camp’s title sponsor, has described its support as a worthwhile investment in the development of women and girls through football.
Republic Bank’s Marketing and Communications Manager Jonelle Dummett said the sponsorship reflected the institution’s commitment to providing young girls with a safe and comfortable environment in which they can learn and enjoy the game.
Dummett also highlighted the progress of several participants who have gone on to represent Guyana at the various national youth levels, underscoring the camp’s growing contribution to the country’s football development pathway.
The Guyana Women’s Football Association (WFA) has also endorsed the initiative, with its President Andrea Johnson describing the camp as an important pathway for young girls into organised football, club competition and, ultimately, the national team.

Johnson noted that the programme fits squarely within the WFA’s broader strategy for the development of women’s football. She identified the camp as an important introduction to organised football for girls who are taking their first steps in the sport.
The WFA’s endorsement is complemented by the Guyana Football Federation’s investment in coach education, with several qualified coaches now working with the Vurlon Mills Academy during the camp. Their involvement provides participants with structured technical instruction while exposing them to coaches equipped with recognised qualifications.
For Mills, a former Guyana international who turned his attention to youth development after retiring from club and international football, the All-Girls Camp remains one of the Academy’s most important annual programmes.
Held during the August school holidays, the camp is designed not only to develop footballing ability but also to encourage more girls to become actively involved in the sport.
Mills believes greater attention must be given to creating opportunities for young females, particularly at the grassroots level, if Guyana is to build a stronger future for women’s football.
The camp has also expanded beyond football, with financial literacy incorporated into the programme for participants between the ages of 14 and 16. Republic Bank staff will conduct sessions aimed at equipping the teenagers with practical knowledge and skills to better understand and manage their finances.