Reflection 2: after 10 games and 3500 KM

10 games and 3500 KM brought us closer to our goal; ‘greater involvement of FIFA with its programme ‘Football for Hope’ in South Asia’. To achieve our goal we are reaching out to underprivileged girls, building & strengthening partnerships and raising awareness. Learn more about the results below.

Reaching communities:

• 450 underprivileged girls playing football in India’s tribal belt, the outskirts of Kolkata, the back alleyways of Bihar, hills of Nepal and villages of North and Central India. Meet the girls at our webalbum!

• Video & picture reports of 10 football events capturing the passion and ability of young woman in:

o Eastern India (Jharkhand, West-Bengal and Bihar)

o Nepal (Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara)

o North India (Uttar Pradesh)

o Central India (Maharashtra)

o South India (Tamil Nadu)

Developing partnerships:

• Support from:

• Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Jharkhand for a ‘Special Football Camp for tribal girls’ at the TATA Football Academy (TFA)

• TATA Steel for promoting for Girls football in India

• Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. in Jharkhand for organising girls’ football tournaments

• Usha Martin Ltd for Yuwa’s launch in 2009 and youth programme in 2010

• Relationship established with:

• AIFF affiliate football state programs

• Nike India and Manchester United Premier Cup

• Coca-Cola India

• Commitment of youth leaders (Milaan) for developing future football programmes in Uttar Pradesh as an integrated part of creative learning for girls (Scheduled Caste)

• Commitment of Pokhara Children’s homes for developing future football programmes in Pokhara to stimulate teamwork for future micro business organisations

• Partnership with national and local NGOs for organising demonstration games

Raising awareness: 10 million people reached through print media and radio in South Asia and abroad

• Radio 1 – three (3) interviews (The Netherlands)

• The Kathmandu Post (National Daily in Nepal) – ‘Changing Lives through football’. Sunday, January 10, 2010

• Republica (National Daily in Nepal) – ‘My Game is Beautiful in South Asia’. Monday, December 28, 2009

• Radio 1 - interview (The Netherlands) – December 13, 2009

• Hindustan Times (National Edition) – “‘Bend it Like Beckhambhai’. New Ballgame: In a village near Ranchi, a small group of girls and their American coach are learning to juggle the football – and their lives”. Sunday, December 6, 2009

• De Pers (National daily in The Netherlands) - “Tribal Girls gain self-confidence through Football”. December 2, 2009

• Hindustan Times (Eastern Edition) - “Soccer Succour: Jharkhand's tribal girls to bend it like Beckham in Switzerland”. December 1, 2009

• Prabhat Kabar plus seven (7) other Local Newspapers in Eastern India covering 'Special Football Camp for Tribal Girls' at Tata Football Academy. December 1, 2009

• Sun Current (Minnesota, USA) - “Edina Natives Making a Difference in Rural India”. October 8, 2009

• Plus considerable local and regional news coverage

Roadmap: India to Zurich

Descending from the Himalaya after game 5 we followed the sun through fascinating landscapes of central India to reach the sea at Goa. What’s next? Check the roadmap for ‘My Game is Beautiful’ on googlemaps.



View 'My Game is Beautiful' - Map in a larger map

Weekly on Volkskrantreizen.nl: article 11 (Dutch)

Jaap Scholten writes that driving on motorcycles through Central India must be a dream. Click here for article 11; 'Tempelstad Khajuraho'.

[Preview]

Van Lucknow naar Nagpur zijn meer dan 800 kilometers, teveel voor één dag op de motor. Maar dat is niet erg, want halverwege ligt Khajuraho, en dat is misschien wel de beroemdste tempelstad van India. In Lucknow was het koud en Willem Grimminck en Franz Gastler hebben moeite de motoren aan de praat te krijgen. Maar als de koude ochtendmist optrekt staat er een lekker zonnetje aan de hemel. We gaan richting het zuiden. Naar het zuiden betekent ook weer een andere deelstaat: Uttar Pradesh wordt verruild voor Madhya Pradesh (MP), dat zoiets als middenprovincie betekent en inderdaad het geografische hart van India is. MP is niet half zo dicht bevolkt als UP en een stuk rustiger. Willem: “Madhya Pradesh was een verademing na het drukke UP. We reden over goede en opvallend rustige wegen door een glooiend landschap met eindeloze gele velden, de bloemen van de mosterdplant. Langzaam kwamen we weer op temperatuur.” Lees verder..