Check-in post: how y'all doing?

The subjects taught in the educational classes are chosen by the beneficiaries. The various topics covered in life skill workshops are selected by the beneficiaries. The timings of various programmes, be it football sessions, educational classes or life skill workshops, are, and will continue to be, decided by the girls themselves. Holidays are also decided by the beneficiaries, as there are many that the organisation is unaware of in the community, which must be respected and participated in.

During Atoot's activities and the community visits, opinions and suggestions of beneficiaries, parents and various community stakeholders are taken and applied to programming as seen appropriate and in line with the beneficiaries' betterment. It is important to Atoot that the beneficiaries, as well as the community, are involved in the decision-making process and take ownership of its programmes. The organisation strongly believes that this is how long term, sustainable change is going to come about.

Community notices transformation

During monitoring and evaluation, interviews were conducted with beneficiaries, their parents, and teachers at the local government school. One of the teachers interviewed was surprised and pleased to see the impact sports have had on girls in the school.

Here is an excerpt from the translated transcription of a local school teacher's interview-

“We had conducted a Sports' Day programme in school – it consisted of high jump, long jump, running, and a throwing event. We observed that girls were participating more actively than the boys! And that is when we realised that your organisation has made an impact on the girls' lives.

“Or else earlier, the girls would hesitate – ‘We are girls. How can we play? We don't play such games. We don't know how to play these things' – these are some of the things they would say. They would never come forward to participate.

“However, this time they came forward to register on their own. “I want to play too, Sir. I will get my name registered as well.” This is how they came forward and got their names registered for the program. The end result was really surprising – girls had won more prizes than the boys!

“Doesn't that show how impactful your programme has been? The program has turned out to be very effective as just a year ago, not even one girl was not interested in coming forward to participate in the sorts of programme, and today, all the prizes are won by girls.”

Sport for development – a transformational tool

Atoot strongly believes in the power of sport for the greater good. It believes sport is a tool to help bridge gaps, promote gender equality, build resilience, eradicate discrimination, level the playing field and build character/self-esteem.

Atoot looks forward to continuing working with young girls, expanding outreach and transforming the lives of rural Nepali girls through the magic of sport!