Colorful kit brings color to sisters lives!
Eleven year-old Heena studies in grade four. She comes to play at Bonamma Gudi ground in Manik nagar slum, Heena says, “After coming from school, I go to tuitions and by the time I return home it is 7pm. I used to play with my sister, Sameera and other girls near my house. On Sundays, my sister and I watch TV and do house hold chores. Being the elder child of the family, I was always told by my mother that I shouldn’t play with boys and even at our home among relatives, girls doesn’t play much with boys.”
It was with youth mentor, Basava Rajamma’s intervention with her family that Heena stepped into the ground with her sister. Coming from an orthodox back ground, Heena and Sameera never mingled in the activities as there were boys around and the Community Sports Coaches were also boys. Heena said, “I too wanted to touch and play with balls and colorful markers when I saw boys playing with them, but, never did it as I felt shy. When I told about this to didi she urged me to join the line and play, but I didn’t. Once, out of excitement, Sameera joined the line. When she held the ball and placed it on the marker… she looked at me and said, ‘Didi, it’s nice, come and play once’. By looking at her enthusiasm I joined the line only to touch the ball and place it on the marker. At first, I failed to hit the marker with the ball but in my second attempt I scored.”
Since then Heena and Sameera gained confidence and love to play with the football. They further add, “We have never played with handball or football before. We help in marking the ground with colorful cones and markers.”
A sports kit has made difference in the two sisters’ lives. They are now confident and boast about playing with special sports equipments.
The sports kit will be used to provide sports sessions for 50 more children like Heena and Sameera.
Thank you, Laurent, for putting your faith in Magic Bus. Your support will go a long way in helping disadvantaged children learn and develop through play and shed their inhibitions and stereotypes that exist in their immediate society!