About the Project

Promoting sports among girls in rural Kerala is CFA’s dream project which began with a vision to facilitate the overall development of girls (from economically weak communities) through sports. This project was conceived under the mentorship of the Centre for Excellence in Sports Management (COESM), Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research. It is backed with the support of Inner Wheel of Madras Central and Kerala Football Association.

In the first phase of the project, 25 girls have been selected from nearby rural areas who will undergo a four year training program. They have been enrolled on a full scholarship basis and have been provided with sports kits, player insurance and advanced nutrition. They are being trained by the coaches at the academy. Moreover, efforts have been made to ensure that their academic education remains uninterrupted. The project receives financial support from Inner Wheel Madras Central.

Project Goals and Objectives

• To facilitate the overall development of girls from rural underprivileged communities through sport.
• Promote gender equality in sport by encouraging more girls to join sports and thus create gender balance.
• To create an awareness among the rural communities on the importance of sports and its impact on the overall development of a girl child.

As an offshoot of the above project objectives, we also hope to achieve larger social good by way of:

• Engaging young people in physical and moral education with a view to reduce crimes, drug abuse, depression, and give them a new and progressive outlook towards life.
• Using this platform to identify future state and international level players

How did the project come to be

There are a lot of girl children in and around our village Thamarakulam, who are interested in sports, but do not have adequate support and encouragement from government authorities and from their schools for participating in them. These girls come from poor backgrounds and can barely support additional activities over and above their education. If adequate support is given to them in terms of access to sports kits, proper training facilities and nourishing diets along with creating awareness among the parents, the lives of these girls can be improved. This project evolved from this vision of improving the lives of girls through sports.

From the Project Head: Girija Kumari R

The most important issue I have identified from my limited eleven years of experience in grassroots football is the reluctance of girls and women to enter the sports. The culture of sports itself presents a problem and this field has been mostly dominated by men. Women are confronted with a number of problems with respect to their participation in sports. As far as I understand, 70% of women are interested in getting in to sports, it may be girls, it may be mothers and it may be even grandmothers. I mention this fact here from my own experience. The truth is they don’t get the right venue for it. The most important thing here is to create an environment for women and girls to enter this field in a safe and unobstructed manner. Another important factor indicates the importance of girls entering this field is the possibility of job opportunities. It is possible to bring more girls in to this field by spreading a clear awareness of the same at all levels of society.

I realized the importance of sports in bringing young women to the forefront of society. I also understood that in making opportunities for those from economically developing communities in my rural town, I will be able to make a positive impact towards their personal growth which in turn will benefit society as a whole. Under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Celina Joy who is the academic coordinator of Pillai group institutions, I was able to channelise my objectives and align my resources to shape my vision. My dream project was brought to reality with the sponsorship of Rotary Inner Wheel, Madras Central. For the next 4 years, we aim to provide mental, physical and technical education for 25 girls who has been selected for this program.

Gallery from Inaugural Event

The project was inaugurated by Mr. Abdhu Rahman, Hon: Sports Minister of Kerala, in the presence of many respected dignitaries. Ms. Shree latha Narayan represented Inner Wheel Madras Central and Dr. Celina Joy represented the Centre for Excellence in Sports Management (COESM), Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research.

Support the Project

If you wish to support the project and help girls from rural Kerala begin their journey in sports, you can get in touch with us at [email protected] or you can call us at 6282314227 or 9447464800