Rhythm & Belonging: Inclusive Rhythmic Gymnastics for Newcomer & Low-Income Girls

Suluu Rhythmic Gymnastics Association (SRGA) is a newly established, immigrant-led non-profit dedicated to removing barriers to sport participation for girls from underserved communities. Our board consists entirely of BIPOC immigrants who have personally experienced the financial, cultural, and systemic challenges of accessing Canadian sport. We are committed to ensuring that no child is excluded from rhythmic gymnastics because of their family’s income, immigration status, or lack of transportation.

Through “Rhythm & Belonging,” SRGA will provide free rhythmic gymnastics programming to 80 girls aged 5–12 from low-income and newcomer families in Edmonton, Leduc, and Beaumont. Partnering with local schools and cultural community organizations (including St. Martha, St. Teresa, Ormsby, and Gurukul Nepalese Pathsala School), we will identify and invite girls who face the highest barriers to sport. Our approach brings programming directly into schools or recreation centres right after school hours, eliminating transportation barriers for parents.

The program introduces participants to rhythmic gymnastics through fun, energetic, and culturally sensitive sessions blending movement, music, and artistic expression. Girls develop not only flexibility, coordination, and physical literacy, but also self-confidence, teamwork, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging. All apparatus, uniforms, and equipment are supplied by the club, so families incur no cost. Our head coach—a former newcomer gymnast who overcame her own barriers—serves as a relatable mentor and role model, demonstrating what’s possible when opportunities are equitable.

This initiative fills a critical gap the province's sport landscape. While rhythmic gymnastics clubs exist, fees, travel, and equipment costs put participation far out of reach for many families, especially newcomers. No other program combines free access, culturally informed design, and school-based recruitment. With Field Law’s support, SRGA will expand its impact, ensuring that marginalized girls can experience the joy and benefits of sport while building skills, friendships, and confidence that last far beyond the gym.

The Rhythm & Belonging project will directly benefit 80 girls aged 5–12 from low-income, newcomer and equity-deserving families in Edmonton, Leduc and Beaumont. These children face multiple barriers to sport participation: high training fees, equipment costs, lack of transportation and limited culturally responsive programming. Many have recently arrived in Canada, are learning English and are navigating new school systems and social environments. For them, sport can be a vital avenue for belonging, self-confidence and healthy development, yet it is often out of reach.

Participants will be recruited through our partnerships with Edmonton Catholic Schools, Edmonton Public Schools and cultural community schools such as Gurukul Nepalese Pathsala. Principals and program coordinators will identify girls based on financial need and immigration status, ensuring the program reaches those who stand to benefit the most. Sessions will take place directly after school in gym spaces provided free of charge, eliminating transportation barriers for families.

Beyond the children themselves, families and the wider community will benefit. Parents frequently express gratitude for accessible programs that relieve financial stress while allowing their daughters to participate in positive, structured activities. By integrating girls into supportive peer groups, the program reduces isolation for newcomer families and creates informal networks among parents. This builds stronger social ties and community cohesion.

The project also benefits the local sport ecosystem. By removing cost and access barriers, Rhythm& Belonging creates a pathway for girls who might otherwise never enter rhythmic gymnastics. This brings more diversity into a sport that has traditionally been inaccessible to many. In time, participants can progress to leadership and coaching roles, enriching the volunteer base and future workforce of community sport.

Finally, the program has an indirect impact on schools and neighbourhoods. Offering free, after-school physical activity supports children’s mental health, focus and classroom engagement. It provides schools with an inclusive enrichment opportunity without additional cost or staffing. The presence of a culturally responsive, equity-centered program in these communities signals that every child — regardless of background or income — deserves access to high-quality sport and recreation.