Empower Vulnerable Young People with Life Skills

300 young adults from Dream A Dream’s Life skills program graduated this March. It is indeed a proud moment for us and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Underneath the graduation hats and behind the certificates we saw smiles that cannot be matched with words. Every smile had a story and one such smile was that of Anitha’s.

Anitha started to attend Dream A Dream's Life Skills Thru Football Program when she was studying in 7^th grade at Makkala Jagriti. Anitha was a rigid but sensitive girl, and would get upset very quickly when corrected.  Learning in the reflection circle gradually changed her.  She says, “I used to make mistakes, but was not ready to accept it, after understanding what is right and wrong during the reflection circle, I decided to change because I realized that I was hurting others without thinking”.

Her parents wanted her to quit studying and start working.  Confused, Anitha wondered what to do. A coordinator (also her mentor) at the Dream Sports Program encouraged her to think through solutions and discuss them with her parents. Today, she works part-time with the Dream Sports Program, after college hours, and knows that a better future lies ahead after she graduates from college. She now dreams of becoming a Police Officer and is working towards it.

We at Dream A dream are immensely proud of Anitha’s efforts and young adults like her reinforce our belief that the right exposure, opportunity and guidance can make a difference to their lives.

Organisational and program updates 

• Dream A Dream organized its first ever official graduation program with 300 graduating young adults
• As part of the scaling plan, two teacher trainings for 60 teachers were conducted in May. One of the teachers training was conducted in Bihar and marked Dream A Dream’s first stride outside Karnataka.
• The Dream Connect center that empowers 10th standard graduates / drop-outs aged 15+ years (Dream A Dream Alumni) by offering the tools and foundational life skills necessary for career development, ran it’s summer programs and reached out to 120 young adults
• In April the first ‘Outdoor Experiential camp’ for the year was conducted impacting 30 young adults.
• Dream A Dream won the Silver award for the most socially innovative project at the Global sports forum, Barcelona.
• Bobbymon George, head of programs represented Dream A Dream at the Street football network conference conducted by Big issue, Australia in the month of May, 2012
• Annual Planning and Budgets completed for the year 2012-13

As you read this, 30 facilitators from Dream A Dream’s Life skills program are going through intensive training on ‘Creative Facilitation’ and gearing up for the beginning of another academic year. It is only with your support that we have reached so far and we would like to thank you for continuing to be the wind beneath the wings of thousands of young adults like Anitha.

Links:

• These are the dreamers who give us more reason to do what we do!