How Football Changed the Lives of 600 young girls: Yuwa

A class that plays together, learns together. It is a tried and tested technique recommended by Franz Gastler. His NGO, Yuwa, is based in Jharkhand and is a platform that uses sports as a crucial catalyst to put the future of girls in their own hands through education. He talks about how sports changed the lives of several young girls in Jharkhand.

Fact: Six out of ten girls drop out of school and become child brides in rural Jharkhand. (UNICEF)

Yuwa was established back in 2009 with the aim of using scholarship programs for gifted students in Government schools to combat child marriage and human trafficking in these areas, and to lower the dropout rate from schools. The focus changed to sports gradually. In fact, the football coaching program was spurred by an interest expressed by a few girls from these Government schools.

Especially in regions and cultures where sports takes a backseat, particularly for girls, here we see an extraordinary instance of how sports has completely transformed the lives of over a hundred young girls.

Girls more keen on football than boys?

In spite of not being a professional Football coach, I felt that it can be a great team building activity and can pique their interest about being in school. Initially, I tried incorporating the football program for both, girls and boys — but the boys were inconsistent in their attendance and wouldn’t commit to coming to practices.

The girls, however, showed outstanding work ethic and dedication. In the village, girls are expected to spend all their time in the service of their families - not going to school, not studying, and certainly not having fun, or playing sports. Today, Yuwa stands as one of the largest football programs especially to cater to girls in India. It stands strong with 300 players, with almost all players practicing daily.

Making girls well rounded performers - from school to the field

I saw the need for a second family for girls, to give them the support and encouragement that is necessary for their development. When I established Yuwa, my goal was not just to delay marriage, but to enable girls to break out of the cycle of poverty and make powerful decisions about their future.

I am glad that we were able to help the situation to a great extent. Through the positive peer pressure created by daily team practices, girls started going to school every day, taking an interest in their own education, and motivating one another to do the same. Before joining, they were shy, and quiet. After months of daily practice and affirmation in a positive social network, they became confident, bold football players who weren’t afraid to introduce themselves to strangers.

After a year, it was obvious that football teams had the potential to be an effective platform for empowering young women. Ironically, the girls that were originally selected for the Yuwa scholarship to a private school were not responding positively to the program — they were still missing 40-50 days of school each year. These girls would only drop by Yuwa once a month to collect their school fees. In contrast, the girls playing football would come by to study every single day. It was thus evident that the girls receiving the scholarships lacked the positive social support and motivation that was being provided by the Yuwa girls’ football teams.

Tackling poverty, abuse and creating a positive childhood through Sports

Through tight-knit, regular classes and football sessions, Yuwa has created an atmosphere where positive peer pressure and accountability has had a direct influence in the form of attendance in higher classes and lesser probabilities of a girl being pulled out of school.

The success of our program thus far has proven that sports can work wonders if implemented as a part of a child’s education. Sports can be a big boost for the enthusiasm level of children and regular sports lessons in schools can improve their attendance as well.

If this is the difference sports has made in the lives of a few girls in this village, imagine the difference it can make to children across the country. If sports becomes a larger part of the school curriculum, we will see the fostering of a sports culture that encourages more participation from all stakeholders.

Sports is an underrated tool that can improve the lives of future generation, and improve the status of our country as a whole. To make this dream a reality, I urge you to sign the petition to make sports a compulsory subject in schools.

Join Tata Tea’s initiative and sign the petition by clicking on this link -- or by calling 7815966666 toll free.

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