This short piece narrative addresses a crucial but often overlooked issue in education: the growing demand for 21st-century skills in today’s world. While governments worldwide recognize this need, there’s a significant gap in providing access to alternative learning pathways that nurture these skills, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Through this photo narrative, we briefly explain how we’re actively addressing this gap through our interventions through mediums like Football.
Challenging School Environment: Close-knit buildings, compact recreational spaces with rugged grounds, and minimum play resources may sound like an unpropitious school environment for children to have enriching experiences. In actuality, the situation is quite the opposite. This is a typical setting for children from low-income backgrounds attending government schools whom we work with. For them, it is a sanctuary away from the challenges of their daily lives—a place where they can learn, play and engage with peers.
Riddle for you: Are there hidden possibilities in seemingly challenging environments? What if we change the equation?
Maduma Nagar Corporation Middle School, in Perumbur, Chennai, shared a similar status before Enabling Leadership’s intervention was introduced last year. “Mr. Ganesh, who now serves as the Headmaster, was my teacher back in the early 2000s when I was in the 10th grade. When we approached him to introduce our program and its interventions to the school, he expressed great enthusiasm for the idea of the children in his school becoming a part of it” shares Anand Babu, our Coach who currently conducts the Play program for a new batch of students in the same school.
The Playground Comes Alive: As the final bell for the day rings, the cosy playground nestled between this corporation school buildings comes alive with children, eager to release the energy they’ve saved up sitting through classes. In the same shared space, a batch of 6th-standard students are eagerly waiting to greet their Coach, assemble the required play resources, and start their football training. The sheer excitement in just their first month into our Play program vividly reveals the significance of the concept of the joy of learning. A feat that conventional education doesn’t offer.
Reflections: What other surprises lie in store when kids are given the freedom to explore?
Unleashing Creativity and Critical Thinking: Contrary to what we often hear from parents and teachers, children on the playground pay full attention and eagerly follow the coach’s instructions because they find learning here enjoyable. Anand recalls – in one memorable drill, we asked them to form pairs, each with their back to their partner and a ball in between, tasked with walking to a cone 10 feet away. Their natural instinct took over as they chatted, strategized, and exchanged ideas before tackling the challenge, revealing innate creativity and critical thinking.
Ponder This: But why do these children pay such close attention during the sessions?
Teachers and Parents as Observers: Teachers and parents, often present as observers during our sessions, are surprised to witness their children’s positive behaviour and attitudes. They see a side of their children that is different from what they encounter at home or in the classroom.
“As teachers, we often associate sports with chaos and disinterest in the classroom. When the program was introduced at our school, I had some concerns about how this could contribute to the children’s experience. However, when I saw the children’s personalities change, it was evident that the coaches were offering more than just regular sports training – there was a strong focus on values and other skills” says Shwetha Nair, a visiting faculty member, who has dealt with two batches of students from different Government schools in Chennai involved in the Play program.
The Broader Challenge: It’s important to realize that children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds get varying opportunities, but for children from disadvantaged communities, these opportunities are scarce. While curriculum changes may not be within our control, Enabling Leadership’s programs are determined to give every child an equal shot at enjoying learning and developing 21st-century skills that today’s world demands.
Challenge Ahead: What can we all do to ensure every child has access to these opportunities?
A Call to Action: The children we help have the same needs as all kids: a fun place to learn, personalized experiences, and supportive systems that let them explore what interests them. This is exactly what we are offering to the 9700+ children as of October 2023. You can start your own personalised Campaign for us by clicking here or by simply donating to our fun and engaging programs so we can reach more children who may benefit from such interventions.
By Ritwick Charles (Communications Manager)
This short piece narrative addresses a crucial but often overlooked issue in education: the growing demand for 21st-century skills in today’s world. While governments worldwide recognize this need, there’s a significant gap in providing access to alternative learning pathways that nurture these skills, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Through this photo narrative, we briefly explain how we’re actively addressing this gap through our interventions through mediums like Football.
Challenging School Environment: Close-knit buildings, compact recreational spaces with rugged grounds, and minimum play resources may sound like an unpropitious school environment for children to have enriching experiences. In actuality, the situation is quite the opposite. This is a typical setting for children from low-income backgrounds attending government schools whom we work with. For them, it is a sanctuary away from the challenges of their daily lives—a place where they can learn, play and engage with peers.
Riddle for you: Are there hidden possibilities in seemingly challenging environments? What if we change the equation?
Maduma Nagar Corporation Middle School, in Perumbur, Chennai, shared a similar status before Enabling Leadership’s intervention was introduced last year. “Mr. Ganesh, who now serves as the Headmaster, was my teacher back in the early 2000s when I was in the 10th grade. When we approached him to introduce our program and its interventions to the school, he expressed great enthusiasm for the idea of the children in his school becoming a part of it” shares Anand Babu, our Coach who currently conducts the Play program for a new batch of students in the same school.
The Playground Comes Alive: As the final bell for the day rings, the cosy playground nestled between this corporation school buildings comes alive with children, eager to release the energy they’ve saved up sitting through classes. In the same shared space, a batch of 6th-standard students are eagerly waiting to greet their Coach, assemble the required play resources, and start their football training. The sheer excitement in just their first month into our Play program vividly reveals the significance of the concept of the joy of learning. A feat that conventional education doesn’t offer.
Reflections: What other surprises lie in store when kids are given the freedom to explore?
Unleashing Creativity and Critical Thinking: Contrary to what we often hear from parents and teachers, children on the playground pay full attention and eagerly follow the coach’s instructions because they find learning here enjoyable. Anand recalls – in one memorable drill, we asked them to form pairs, each with their back to their partner and a ball in between, tasked with walking to a cone 10 feet away. Their natural instinct took over as they chatted, strategized, and exchanged ideas before tackling the challenge, revealing innate creativity and critical thinking.
Ponder This: But why do these children pay such close attention during the sessions?
Teachers and Parents as Observers: Teachers and parents, often present as observers during our sessions, are surprised to witness their children’s positive behavior and attitudes. They see a side of their children that is different from what they encounter at home or in the classroom.
“As teachers, we often associate sports with chaos and disinterest in the classroom. When the program was introduced at our school, I had some concerns about how this could contribute to the children’s experience. However, when I saw the children’s personalities change, it was evident that the coaches were offering more than just regular sports training – there was a strong focus on values and other skills” says Shwetha Nair, a visiting faculty member, who has dealt with two batches of students from different Government schools in Chennai involved in the Play program.
The Broader Challenge: It’s important to realize that children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds get varying opportunities, but for children from disadvantaged communities, these opportunities are scarce. While curriculum changes may not be within our control, Enabling Leadership’s programs are determined to give every child an equal shot at enjoying learning and developing 21st-century skills that today’s world demands.
Challenge Ahead: What can we all do to ensure every child has access to these opportunities?
A Call to Action: The children we help have the same needs as all kids: a fun place to learn, personalized experiences, and supportive systems that let them explore what interests them. This is exactly what we are offering to the 9700+ children as of October 2023. You can start your own personalised Campaign for us by clicking here or by simply donating to our fun and engaging programs so we can reach more children who may benefit from such interventions.
By Ritwick Charles (Communications Manager)
