Women in TSG – Soraia Chung Saura Regional Coordinator of ICTSG for South America As the South America Regional Coordinator for the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG), Soraia has spent 15 years reclaiming neglected games as tools for empowerment. Her office at the University of São Paulo tells the story: indigenous jogo da onça boards line the walls, feminist sports manifestos accompany her own publications—Play as Resistance, Games of the Forgotten. A proud poster from the 2019 Mulheres da Terra (Women of the Land) festival depicts a 70-year-old quilombola woman outdancing a capoeira master in a samba de roda duel. ✨ Reimagining Power Through Play Her turning point came in 2008, researching xondaro—a Guarani warrior dance. In Mato Grosso do Sul, she watched girls denied participation, deemed “too fragile” for its martial rhythm. That night, Soraia designed an all-women’s xondaro circle, combining battle stances with symbolic birthing postures. “Our bodies are not limitations,” she declared. Her bold choreography moved even the most skeptical village elders to tears. This defiance inspired her lifelong blueprint. In 2016, she founded Jogadoras Ancestrais (Ancestral Players), a network that trains women to teach indigenous games in favelas and boardrooms alike. Her landmark project—the 2021 Copa das Raízes (Roots Cup)—saw Yanomami girls in tree-climbing races against Rio parkour teens, streamed live to 2 million viewers. “You’re not just athletes,” she told the girls. “You’re storytellers with calloused hands.” 🕊️ Quiet Revolutions, Profound Healing Soraia’s genius lies in turning tradition into quiet revolution. In São Paulo’s prisons, she introduced inmates to mancala, African counting games as therapy. During COVID-19, her TikTok series #BrincadeiraDeVó (Grandma’s Games) reignited marble tournaments on balconies across Brazil. “Play isn’t escapism,” she told the 2023 UNESCO Forum. “It’s how we reimagine freedom.” Beyond academia, she’s a dancer, gardener, and cultural synthesizer—often barefoot in Bahia’s candomblé ceremonies, her rooftop garden filled with jurubeba healing plants, meditating with a yoga practice rooted in indigenous breathing techniques. “She’s not just jumping squares. She’s drawing a new world.” — Mrs. Soraia Chung Saura 🌎 A Voice for Women in Traditional Games As part of ICTSG’s Women in TSG initiative, Soraia leads the way in promoting gender equity, indigenous knowledge, and SDG-aligned community sports models. She remains a foundational leader in ICTSG’s Women Committee program and ongoing TSG Elevation Framework. If you wish to collaborate with or nominate inspiring women leaders, visit our ongoing Call for Speakers or reach out to ICTSG. 🔗 Social Media & Profiles

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About ICTSG: The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games is the global authority for the promotion, registration, and documentation of traditional sports and games. Our mission supports SDGs 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, and 17 through inclusive education, cultural preservation, and global partnerships.

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