It is amazing that 400 children are eagerly anticipating their inclusion on this programme. What a great result.
Children will only wait for things that are worthwhile - Dream a Dreams' hockey programme clearly shows that is comes highly recommended by the children, and this is the best feedback of all.
Its quite puzzling why the national game of India is never given the right attention in this country.
I've had the opportunity to witness few of the dream hockey practice sessions and seen the kids play in one of the tournaments. The enthusiasm these kids show, and the distance they travel (without complaining) to just attend every practice sessions made me realize that there is a bright future, not just for these kids, but for the game too. Even the referee praised the passion our kids had for the game, and their team spirit. Made me realise that sports is indeed a good way to teach discipline and some necessary life skills. But its disheartening to hear that some of the promising kids drop out to support their families.
Wishing these future hockey stars all the best, and keep dreaming big because, There is nothing like a dream to create the future.
Hello, you mention that hockey is an inexpensive sport in India. In the United States it is a very expensive sport! Could you explain how this sport is so cheap in India?
In India, Field Hockey is relatively inexpensive as compared to Cricket, Tennis and some other games since the cost of equipment is relatively cheap and in most places a mud-grounds are used for practice which are low-maintenance cost.
Field Hockey in India is also considered to be a poor man's sport just like football hence the cost of equipment is relatively cheaper while one is learning. Ofcourse, the cost could rise once an individual reaches the state or national level team.
Thank you for asking about the affordability of Sport in India. To be very frank with you, training professionally for any sport in India is ridiculously expensive. Automatically, it cuts out individuals from middle and lower class families. Besides Cricket, any other sport in India is not looked upon as a lucrative career or even a serious hobby to consider. Hockey is India's national game, but a neglected younger sibling when it comes to the funding pumped into the sport by the government or the backing of private agencies.
However, the sport has managed to survive and we do have national level teams for men and women. The Sports Programme at Dream A Dream is a sponsored programme, we have to constantly look for support from corporates/funding agencies/grants etc. Till today, we just about manage. But the truth is that the programme is high in impact and we are looking to get it it's due recognition and thereby attract regular funding. And thus, our application here.
I would further request someone from the Dream A Dream staff to give more detials about the same. But we are proud to say that we are able to bring the best facilities available for hockey (a artificial turf to practice on, one of India's 4 grounds!, a national-level former player as a coach, and Dhanraj Ballal Academy: 2 Hockey Stalwarts that set up this academy to promote Hockey). The money is hard to come by since people prefer to fund basic needs and self-development is looked upon as a fancy concept!
Three Cheers to Vishal and Team,
I can see bright future for the Nation, as Vishal has taken right step to rectify the Nation's future, as everybody know Todays Children are tomorrow's Citizen.
Todays education system is not grooming our children to become a right Citizen, and Vishal's efforts is in right direction and he is building the Sporting spirit, Fighting Spirit in Children. He is not only developing interest in Sports for the children's for whom it is unreachable, he is making them mentally and physically strong.
I was one of the founder members of Dream a Dream and have seen how Dream a Dream has grown immensely over the years.
The dream hockey program has been a succesful program designed by Dream a Dream to help in the development process of the children we work with. the program has inculcated skills such as team work, co-ordination, strategic planning and has given the children a forum to also vent out their pent up energy thus empowering them. We have been able to track the development of the children by seeing the changes in their inter-personal skills, their attitude about themselves and with others as well as seen the difference going through this program has made in their academic skills also.
I think this program has helped Dream a Dream realize that the development process of a child is grossly neglected and requires immense importance. Other organizations shuold also see the results of the program and understand the dire need of focusing on the development process of a child to help empower children.
Being with Dream a Dream since 2005, i had observed the Dream Hockey program grow leaps & bounds. This belief will only be fortified when you spend time with the children or the volunteers who were part of this program. The team dynamics learned through the game, the exposure by playing with children from different sections of society and the whole experience can be termed invaluable.
It is also heartening to hear that children are ready to take up the game seriously and 2 children had already grown to play for the academy teams. Have these success stories being communicated to the other children who are not part of the programs?. They could also be used to generate greater mileage for the program among the children as well as the partner organizations. Had Dream-a-Dream achieved the same amount of success in the other sports programs? Could the learnings from here be used in other programs?
I have been a volunteer with Dream A Dream since 2005 and I have closely worked with the children in the Hockey programme. My first observation would be that sport is no longer a "privilege" and this was very worthily proven by the Dream A Dream boys when they won match after match against the top schools of Bangalore, India. This is one space that I found helps to eradicate the differences (gender and caste/class for example) and unite to form a team! Something that we need to use in daily life! Do the poor get chances otherwise to experience winning? To experience camaraderie? To experience the power of "one" among a group? The answer will be "maybe" or "limited". But the Dream Hockey Programme co-ordinators will simply look you in the eye and say "Of course"!
One question that I would like to ask the people behind this programme is: How will we bridge the gap? How can we stop the children from dropping out? It is an intensive programme, we have seen that, how do we ensure that children understand this and maximize what they may get from this?
It is amazing that 400 children are eagerly anticipating their inclusion on this programme. What a great result.
Children will only wait for things that are worthwhile - Dream a Dreams' hockey programme clearly shows that is comes highly recommended by the children, and this is the best feedback of all.
Its quite puzzling why the national game of India is never given the right attention in this country.
I've had the opportunity to witness few of the dream hockey practice sessions and seen the kids play in one of the tournaments. The enthusiasm these kids show, and the distance they travel (without complaining) to just attend every practice sessions made me realize that there is a bright future, not just for these kids, but for the game too. Even the referee praised the passion our kids had for the game, and their team spirit. Made me realise that sports is indeed a good way to teach discipline and some necessary life skills. But its disheartening to hear that some of the promising kids drop out to support their families.
Wishing these future hockey stars all the best, and keep dreaming big because, There is nothing like a dream to create the future.
Hello, you mention that hockey is an inexpensive sport in India. In the United States it is a very expensive sport! Could you explain how this sport is so cheap in India?
Thank you
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Hey Dana,
In India, Field Hockey is relatively inexpensive as compared to Cricket, Tennis and some other games since the cost of equipment is relatively cheap and in most places a mud-grounds are used for practice which are low-maintenance cost.
Field Hockey in India is also considered to be a poor man's sport just like football hence the cost of equipment is relatively cheaper while one is learning. Ofcourse, the cost could rise once an individual reaches the state or national level team.
Thanks,
Warm regards,
Vishal
Director | Ashoka Fellow
Dream A Dream
--------------------------
http://www.dreamadream.org/
Hi Dana,
Thank you for asking about the affordability of Sport in India. To be very frank with you, training professionally for any sport in India is ridiculously expensive. Automatically, it cuts out individuals from middle and lower class families. Besides Cricket, any other sport in India is not looked upon as a lucrative career or even a serious hobby to consider. Hockey is India's national game, but a neglected younger sibling when it comes to the funding pumped into the sport by the government or the backing of private agencies.
However, the sport has managed to survive and we do have national level teams for men and women. The Sports Programme at Dream A Dream is a sponsored programme, we have to constantly look for support from corporates/funding agencies/grants etc. Till today, we just about manage. But the truth is that the programme is high in impact and we are looking to get it it's due recognition and thereby attract regular funding. And thus, our application here.
I would further request someone from the Dream A Dream staff to give more detials about the same. But we are proud to say that we are able to bring the best facilities available for hockey (a artificial turf to practice on, one of India's 4 grounds!, a national-level former player as a coach, and Dhanraj Ballal Academy: 2 Hockey Stalwarts that set up this academy to promote Hockey). The money is hard to come by since people prefer to fund basic needs and self-development is looked upon as a fancy concept!
Great effort. Keep it up!i
Three Cheers to Vishal and Team,
I can see bright future for the Nation, as Vishal has taken right step to rectify the Nation's future, as everybody know Todays Children are tomorrow's Citizen.
Todays education system is not grooming our children to become a right Citizen, and Vishal's efforts is in right direction and he is building the Sporting spirit, Fighting Spirit in Children. He is not only developing interest in Sports for the children's for whom it is unreachable, he is making them mentally and physically strong.
Cheers,
I was one of the founder members of Dream a Dream and have seen how Dream a Dream has grown immensely over the years.
The dream hockey program has been a succesful program designed by Dream a Dream to help in the development process of the children we work with. the program has inculcated skills such as team work, co-ordination, strategic planning and has given the children a forum to also vent out their pent up energy thus empowering them. We have been able to track the development of the children by seeing the changes in their inter-personal skills, their attitude about themselves and with others as well as seen the difference going through this program has made in their academic skills also.
I think this program has helped Dream a Dream realize that the development process of a child is grossly neglected and requires immense importance. Other organizations shuold also see the results of the program and understand the dire need of focusing on the development process of a child to help empower children.
Being with Dream a Dream since 2005, i had observed the Dream Hockey program grow leaps & bounds. This belief will only be fortified when you spend time with the children or the volunteers who were part of this program. The team dynamics learned through the game, the exposure by playing with children from different sections of society and the whole experience can be termed invaluable.
It is also heartening to hear that children are ready to take up the game seriously and 2 children had already grown to play for the academy teams. Have these success stories being communicated to the other children who are not part of the programs?. They could also be used to generate greater mileage for the program among the children as well as the partner organizations. Had Dream-a-Dream achieved the same amount of success in the other sports programs? Could the learnings from here be used in other programs?
I have been a volunteer with Dream A Dream since 2005 and I have closely worked with the children in the Hockey programme. My first observation would be that sport is no longer a "privilege" and this was very worthily proven by the Dream A Dream boys when they won match after match against the top schools of Bangalore, India. This is one space that I found helps to eradicate the differences (gender and caste/class for example) and unite to form a team! Something that we need to use in daily life! Do the poor get chances otherwise to experience winning? To experience camaraderie? To experience the power of "one" among a group? The answer will be "maybe" or "limited". But the Dream Hockey Programme co-ordinators will simply look you in the eye and say "Of course"!
One question that I would like to ask the people behind this programme is: How will we bridge the gap? How can we stop the children from dropping out? It is an intensive programme, we have seen that, how do we ensure that children understand this and maximize what they may get from this?