THE CHAMPION TEACHER

Always in her salwar kameez, dozens of bangles and a wide smile on her face, Mala Mam is an unassuming champion. Working as the PET of GSSS Shahpur School, Ambala she is a former All India University level Athletics Champion, who has won a gold in 5000m, and 2 bronze medals in 10000m at the state level. A year ago, Mala mam, struggled to effectively facilitate a class of 30 children with one football on her school playground.

Over the year, she relentlessly worked with our coaches on a day-to-day basis to improve. She asked us many questions, right from how to design an activity to how to conduct a debrief. Our coaches would get tired of her unfailing spirit, but Mala Mam would keep asking, experimenting, failing, but would just never give up. She was the first person on the field and the last person off it.

Today, Mala Mam doesn't need us to help her to effectively conduct a session. She plans her session beforehand, conducts debrief like a professional football coach, and trains her students till they are better than their last session.

ChangeMAKERS

When Daljit Kaur, Varsha, Rajat, Payal Chauhan, and Payal from our Ambala program ran into the football field in Hissar to represent Ambala, it was a moment of immense pride for us. While it is relatively easier to assess a child's football skills at the end of the year, it is difficult to know if our program really helps children to make better decisions, take initiative, handle pressure, express themselves in life outside of the school premises. 

Our girls had to TAKE A DECISION, either to play the tournament miles away from home or stay at home in their comfort zones. They had to TAKE INITIATIVE, to be the first women in their families ever to play football for a district team. They had TO HANDLE PRESSURE of performing, first in the selection trials that had 30 other girls from all over Ambala and finally as a part of the Ambala team. They had TO EXPRESS themselves to their worried parents, who repeatedly told them not to play as they were concerned for their safety. We played a minuscule part in ensuring the girls know what we already did- they are the real 'CHANGEMAKERS'!

HOME RUN

Vidya and Child is an NGO run school based out of Noida. They were one of the first schools we worked with. Mala joined us there. She never attended school till she was 12 years old. She found it difficult to cope up. But Mala found her rhythm on the sports field. With a little help, she unleashed the competitive side of her. She was always the last one to leave the field and represented her school team in a number of leagues. That confidence gave her enough fire power to gather the self - confidence required to cope up with the classroom eduction. Mala championed us.