While India is serenading cricket, two youngsters in Mumbai are using a football to change the lives of kids at a Mulund slum
While India is serenading cricket, two youngsters in Mumbai are using a football to change the lives of kids atu00a0a Mulund slum
LOOK at my bangles!" says an excited Komal, swinging two football markers she has decided to accessorise her arms with with for the day. A minute later, she's back -- this time, showing off the handi she's made by placing one marker atop another. "She's being imaginative.
I gave her markers to play with and she's made bangles and a pot. That's a sort of learning," says Rohit D'Souza, with obvious excitement, before Keerti comes and tugs him away for an improvised game of lagori. This is a typical Sunday afternoon at Durgawadi landfill opposite Hari Om Nagar, a Mulund (E) slum. Rohit and Prajakt Patil, friends and partners in The Ball Project, meet slum kids to impart life-skills through play. All their Sundays since August last year have unfolded in this manner.
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Out of curiosity I chatted with these families about how they made ends meetm andu00a0 decided to do something for the kids here, " he remembers.
Three months of planning and visits later, The Ball Project was born. "I watched a TV documentary about an organisation called Right To Play. It used sport to help children in war-torn regions relive their childhood. They profiled a girl who was preparing for a gully tournament with such dedication that I had goosebumps. Later, on one of my visits here, I found a kid with a ball. We started juggling and kicking the ball, and that's how it all took off."
No chalk here
One look at the glee on kids' faces and the deafening yelps as they pass the ball, and you know it's working. "We teach through games, not books. While playing fooball, they learnt that they needed to prevent foot injuries, which in turn persuaded them to wear shoes or slippers. When the boys play with girls, they see them as equals; that's a lesson in gender equality. Earlier, the older kids would gamble in their free time. Now, they join us. When we started out, a lot of them didn't even wear clothes. Look at the difference now!" smiles Prajakt.
Lagori with a twist
Innovation is the name of the game here, obvious in today's game of lagori. Instead of hitting the opposing team member with the ball, kids are encouraged to pass the ball to another and tap the opposing team's member with it to get him/her 'out'.
"That way, no one gets hurt, and they understand the importance of teamwork," Prjakat says. Rohit explains that there are two lines from behind which the kids can aim at the pile of football markers. Shooting from behind the first line (which is closer to the pile), gets them 10 points, 20 if they manage to do it from further down.
"They choose the line from behind which they aim, which helps them recognise their strengths and limitations. Soon, when they are confident enough, they'll challenge themselves and try to score 20 points by moving behind." And sure enough, by the end of the game, one boy does take aim from the 20-point-line. He misses, but you know the lesson's taking shape.
The kids aren't forced to play, they're welcome to goof around or do what they like. "It's a long journey and we need patience. I want them to live curiously and be empowered through sport," says Rohit, who hopes to approach the Nalanda School nearby for a spare room for the kids to learn.
The kids learn to be resourceful without being aware of it. Soon after the games began, some kids rummaged through the dump to find balls. Those who didn't understand basic relay rulesu00a0 are now strategising and communicating to find ways to win and escape.
As flashes of giggly blue and purple swoosh around us, we realise that the six kids at the start of the session have grown to over 12. "That's the beauty. Everyone joins in, and by the end of it, they've had a blast without realising they've learnt so much," laughs Prajakt.
We are called out by Aarti, who has found a plastic camera in the dumpster. "Smile!" she laughs. Pose, we must.
Call Rohit on 9819199863, Prajakt
on 9987372735 or email
theballproject@ymail.com for details.
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