Sports Girl Pakistan
Sports Girl Pakistan
Over two years ago my NGO adopted a government school in Orangi Town, one of the poorest areas of Karachi with a not totally undeserved reputation among Karachites for violence. Our school health programme indicates 30-40% children as undernourished and from low income families, many the first in their families to attend school. The school has 420 students ages 5-14, two sports instructors and extracurricular clubs including cricket and taekwondo. Certain factors have been observed that hinder participation - part time jobs often restricting boys participation and cultural/religious restrictions often placed on girls.
Problem
improvement of local facilities and attracting quality coaching expertise. 3/ identifying girls with potential to participate at regional/ national level and providing them sponsorships and enhanced opportunities.
Solution
Sports Girl aims to address some of these issues surrounding girl’s participation in several ways By 1/ providing a varied curricular physical education programme will enthuse the students and raise the desire for further involvement through extracurricular participation. Two girls from the school won taekwondo gold medals in the recently held Karachi Games and teams participating in cricket and athletics. Free kits have been distributed and girls from different schools are now participating in our clubs. Successes of the girls are highlighted to parents. Financial sponsorships can boost the status of the girl in the family as an economic asset contributing to the family income. We have already accumulated some evidence as the effectiveness of this approach. Sponsorships can also ensure that increased nutritional needs are met and finance available for travel to coaching and competition. 4/ By identifying professional expertise, physiotherapy/nutritional advice etc. 5/By campaigning for improvements to local facilities. 6/Sports facilities and opportunities remain just a dream for many girls who often face prejudice and family pressure when wishing participate - through our project we will challenge the stereotypes preventing many girls from taking part
Example
Financial sponsorships -an example - a very talented girl faced family problems when her father,a daily wage earner was hospitalised. Financial support for the family through this hardship enabled the NGO to enter a dialogue with the family over future opportunities and support for their daughter - the family is now very supportive and keen for the daughter to participate
Girls from Universal Taekwondo Club Orangi Town Karachi with their medals from the KCDTA Intercity Tournament held on 10th September 2012. With so many girls not only participating but also winning medals their club ran out the eventual winners!
MA step along the way - a friend suggested that this talented 12 year old from Orangi Town should try squash as it might suit her - after several lessons this seems to be the case and her coach seems delighted. She was also one of several girls who representing Farachi West District won medals for taekwondo at the Karachi Games.
Comments
Pakistan has a growing youth population many of whom lack access to quality educational and sporting opportunities - this applies to both girls and boys and although this project is designed to specifically challenge stereotypes restricting girls and increase participation this does not mean in any way that we intend to neglect the boys. Visitors to our projects in Karachi are always welcomed and encouraged.Our girls are the future mothers and even if we cannot offer to them all the opportunities we would wish we can live in the hope that they will pass the enthusiasm they gain for sport through our project to their children with all the benefits this will bring to the community.
Any patriotic sports loving Pakistani could well be suffering from post traumatic stress in the wake of the London 2012 Olympics – searching endlessly in vain for the sight of a finalist – even a competitor to bring some credit to Pakistan. While even India could manage a badminton medalist even the much vaunted hockey team got no where –. One was left sorry for Rabia Ishaq, the lone wildcard female in the athletics, out of her depth and struggling against the odds to represent her country.
Why then is it so difficult for a country the size of Pakistan, bursting at the seams with potential youthful talent to field a respectable contingent for such prestigious events? Other countries invest in sport; nurture their sporting talents, not just in search for medals but with the realization that healthy sporting activity is beneficial to the whole society.
In years gone by they tell me things were different Pakistan topped the world in squash, hockey and cricket – now a star performer a Naseem Hamid or an Aisam-ul Haq seem like oddities – those who survived and thrived against the odds.
The problem isn’t just about money- yes money helps there is a great need for improved facilities for athletes and coaches to travel abroad to train and learn the latest coaching techniques, it is about training sports scientists, doctors who are specialists in sports medicine, physiotherapists and nutritional experts. What seems to be lacking is pride, inspiration and motivation.
Crucially it is also about putting the administration of sport at both local and national level in the hands of capable sports loving administrators who are prepared to go the extra mile in expending their time and effort and increase participation and to raise standards in whatever sport they administer.
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