India: opportunities for children through sport
In the northeast of India plagued by crises, Sport brings children together whose families have been hostile to each other for decades.
"I'm proud of my daughter," says Hechin's father, "She plays football so well!" Hechin is 14 years old and has been kicking for two years. They play here in mixed teams: girls and boys, Muslims, Hindus, Christians and children of traditional religions, long -established and new people. Hechin particularly loves the “Circle”: “After training, we sit down in a circle and talk: How we felt when someone did not give up the ball in time or a pass has been wrong. We apologize when someone is angry. And then everything is fine. We are a team!”
Your support for strong children!
"We're talking. And then everything is fine."
This is not a matter of course in northeastern India: conflicts between the state and ethnic groups, between religions, between immigrants and locals have been smoldering for decades. Thousands of families have lost relatives in the fights. Distrust and fear shape the neighborhoods. Everyone loses: the economy stagnates, people are bitterly low. Children and adolescents have little chance. The schools are poorly equipped, there is a lack of books and teachers, rooms and toilets. Many break school at the age of 12 or 13 and are looking for work.
“We apologize when someone is angry. And then everything is fine. We are a team! "
The Terre of the Hommes project partner of Ant-Action Northeast Trust-now ensure better perspectives: In 48 schools there are further training for teachers so that they make lessons more exciting and child-friendly. Libraries in schools motivate to read. Professional advice offers young people orientation. And a sports program was set up: 25 teams with 20 children each play football or frisbee. 200 girls are trained from Ant to trainers. Hechin is one of them. Soon she will train a team of younger children. "In the past, only young football could play. Now we are girls!", She says, adding: "Sport makes us strong, everyone together!" During her training, Hechin not only learns the rules of the game, but also, as she speaks in front of groups, motivated others and solves conflicts. Her mother is convinced that football is a wonderful thing: "The children no longer run around. They come from school, eat something, and off you go to work. Now you have a goal!"
