Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) and Empowerment Through Law of the Common People (ELCOP) jointly organised “Oporajeyo Sports for All” program in Pirarbari, Kotalipara, Gopalganj from 8-11 January 2019 was made possible by funding from Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed. This program provide intensive physical activities and football training to the follwing groups.
Disability sports: There are an estimated 16 million people with disabilities in Bangladesh or 10% of the country’s population. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination in many societies particularly in Bangladesh.
Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) believe that Sports could be one the main medium to bring out PWD’s from homebound life to outside and at the same time sport will be able to change the perception of society about PWD’s. 22 PWD’s participated in different physical activities and games.
Girls sports: Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage, with more than half of Bangladeshi girls marrying before adulthood.. According to a 2014 report by the Bangladesh Bureau of statistics, 87% of married women experienced mental or physical abuse by their partner. In 2014, the government committed to ending child marriage. At the Girl Summit, Sheikh Hasina, the honourable prime minister of Bangladesh, pledged to end marriage under the age of 15 by 2021 and of 18 by 2041. Girls and women face a disproportionate number of life challenges, which reduce their ability to achieve their full potential.
According to the platform’s website, sports involvement can play a significant role in promoting the physical and mental well-being of girls and women, fostering opportunities for their leadership and achievement, initiating social inclusion and social integration of girls and women.SHI is aiming to create safe meeting space for the girls where they can come and express themselves by participating in sports activities.SHI is also working hard to overcome stereotypes of girls participation in the sport at the communities. 18girls participated in physical activities and intensive football training program.
Children sports: Play is rapidly disappearing from schools in Bangladesh. Children do not get enough time to play because of excessive homework pressure. Parents are more focused on educational performance. 65 % of primary schools have no playground in the cities and only 2% private school have the playground in Dhaka. SHI understand that “Sport helps to develop the brain and builds leadership and responsibility of the children. 35children actively participated in 3days sports program.
Housewives Sports: The life of housewives in rural communities is monotonus.daily household activities and taking care of family members is their life. The recreational opportunity is very limited for them. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) wanted to give housewives chance through “Oporajeyo Sports for All festival” to participate in recreational sports activities where they can have fun and smile. 14 housewives participated in different games.
