Bangalore based NGO Parikrma Humanity Foundation – which has been spiritedly committed towards girl education and women empowerment – announces some transformation stories that have transpired this year.
The foundation’s very own changemakers
Parikrma girls Kruthi M and Senora S have made it to Ashoka India’s 9th Batch of Youth Venturers – for providing literacy and basic education to children of migrant construction labourers. The 18-year olds are now being trained to become young social entrepreneurs.
Global citizens
Meghana and Sathyajyothi were selected to attend the Global Youth Leadership Summit in San Diego this year.
Parikrma girls in sports
Parikrma’s children come from marginalised families, and most often, the effort starts with encouraging parents to admit their girl child to school. With over 2000 children across 4 schools and one junior college today, Parikrma has overcome this hurdle by positively engaging with families residing in over 80 slums in Bangalore. Most of the Parikrma girls love sports – but the concept of a girl running or playing football brings up myths and fear from parents who believe that girls who run cannot have children, or will never get married, and of course, cannot be wearing shorts. After several interactions with mothers on the importance of sports for girls, why gender doesn’t count, myth-breaking sessions, and talks on health benefits, Parikrma announces phenomenal achievements by its girls in sports.
Gold medals for India
Kavana from the Sahakarnagar School represented India in the South Asian Taekwondo Championship 2018 and won 5 gold medals. She was also chosen as the Best Player of the Tournament.
Running for girls
What started off a 5-6 member Running Club, today has over 60 girls. This year alone, Parikrma girls:
Won Gold & Silver at VIVUMA 18
Won Gold & Silver at the Taluk Level Athletic Meet
Bagged the third place in the 5k marathon by Arrow Fitness Academy
Were Runners Up and a student won Star of the Tournament at the Rejuvenators Cup
Emerged as the Champions at the Ryan International Minithon
Parikrma girls in football
Boys at Parikrma have always shown interest in football. After several years of constant encouragement, today besides the annual event, Parikrma Championship League that brings football teams from across India and abroad, the foundation also has its alumni football club, Parikrma Football Club, an A Division team in Bangalore.
Parikrma girls started by playing along with the boys – the foundation has organised several mixed matches in the past too. But over the years, the number of girls keen on playing the sport consistently increased, and it kick-started a few initiatives. Here are some of the laurels won by Parikrma’s rising girl soccer stars:
- One of the girls won the Best Footballer Award at the Reliance Football Tournament.
- Two girls from the foundation’s football team were selected to play in the Senior National Football Camp.
- In partnership with the Spartans Community Football Academy, Edinburg, Parikrma launched the first ever Girls Football Festival in the city #TackleTheStigma.
- This year, the foundation also has a Parikrma Girls Football Club (FC).
- The Parikrma Girls FC played at the Karnataka Women’s League and reached the semi-finals. The team captain was named the Best Mid-fielder of the tournament.
Having started off in 2003 with 165 children from marginalised families huddled together on a small roof-top in a school in Bengaluru, Parikrma Humanity Foundation today runs four schools and a college for 2000 children from the streets, slums, and orphanages in Bangalore.
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