Education & Health via Sports to Indian Slum Kids

Diya (Name changed to protect identity) (14 yrs) was working with a detergent manufacturing factory before she was identified as a drop out from school in the year 2011. Diya was forced to take up the job, to economically support her family, when her father was diagnosed for Tuberculosis. In the factory, she was engaged in the packing section. She has to wrap the soaps in the wrapper and for a day she used to wrap hundreds of soap. She was paid a sum of Rs. 1500 for the work she performed.

One of Diya’s friends is an active member of the SCSTEDS-Children collective. During one of the meeting
that particular friend revealed Diya’s state and requested the group to take immediate action. SCSTEDS’s representative spoke to Kanmani and understood her interest towards education. Her parents were counselled about the ill-effects of child labour and the importance of education. Her parents agreed to send Diya to school. Now Diya is re-enrolled in class 8 and continuing her education with pride.

Status of Children:

More than 650 children play soccer and 95 children are into SCSTEDS foot ball team under various categories ranging from sub-junior, junior, senior & super senior. Around 142 children play chess and 253 children are carom players. They also play in  and district level teams. 75 children are into the scouts & guides team of SCSTEDS.

Last year, more than 200 children in the intervention slums were engaged into the summer camp activities. Foot ball coaching, basic computer education, chess, carom and social education through songs was imparted to the young minds. This summer camp exclusively aimed to develop their physical strength and mental development.  All the above children actively,participated in the Football, chess and carom competition.