What we do

“Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life” seminar held in Dhaka organized by SHI & ELCOP

On Saturday, 9th April a seminar titled “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life” was held at Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA), Dhanmondi. The seminar was organized by Sports for Hope and Independence Bangladesh & Empowerment through Law of the Common People- ELCOP .
Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman, ELCOP and former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was the Honorable guest of Chair of the Seminar. Mr. Utpal Shuvro, Senior Sports Journalist, Daily Prothom Alo was the Guest of Honor while Dr. Leanne O’Leary, Senior Lecturer in Law, Edge Hill University, had joined the seminar virtually as a Speaker.
Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul, Executive Director, ELCOP had presented a paper in the titled “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life”. His presentation was based on the question whether there is a connection between sport and life. He has mentioned that there are 1.5 million street children in 2015 and they are practically deleted from everywhere. Also mentioning the Olympic Charter, European Charter, UNESCO Charter of Physical Education, and the Constitution of Bangladesh, he said that there are lacunas in national and international instruments. He has suggested including these children in the national budget.
Mr. Pappu Modak from SHI had presented a paper titled “Challenges of Street Children in Bangladesh and their Right to Sports”. He has mentioned that 85% of street children are addicted to drugs and is a subject to regular abuse. He has promoted sports by saying that it helps to build universal value of respect, it can help to make more friends, etc. He has complained about the cut of 356 Crore taka for the sports sector in our national budget and also the inactivity of the Sports Ministry regarding the street children for the last 18 years. He has highlighted the lack of open space, lack of equipment and financial crisis in Bangladesh.
Famous sports commentator Mr. Rabiul Islam complained about the lack of applicability of the Preamble of UN Charter. He also said that many famous sportsmen have been brought up from the streets. He has required a voice to be arisen.

Dr. Leanne O’Leary, Senior Lecturer in Law, Edge Hill University, UK mentioned a South African study conducted in 2008 for saying that the street child requires emotional support. Mentioning Olympic movement and the Olympic Charter, she said that this charter does not apply to the street children. Mentioning Article 2 of the IOC she said that this charter only binds the ones who are within the charter and it does not provide anything for the street children. She also mentioned that right to play is not a luxury.

After that there is a ‘Open Discussion’ session. Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman answered the questions in his part.
Mr. Utpal Shuvro, renowned sports journalist of the Daily Prothom Alo, opined that the right to play is not just for the street children but for all the humans of every age. He opined that sports are a miniature of life and he roughly said that 82% of Bangladeshi people are not involved in sports. He has complained that the playing fields are being occupied; the schools of Dhaka do not have any field, and the culture of sports have destroyed. He has mentioned the Brazilian scenarios of promoting sports among the under-privileged children.

Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman have opined that there are several kinds of discrimination and attitude in Bangladesh, and it was the first time that there is a talk on the right of the street children in Bangladesh. He also told that we can call us as civilized society only when we call cut the word ‘street’ from the phrase ‘street children’. Mentioning about the scenario of Russia in the Winter Olympics, he regretted that sport should not be the part of politics. He also told that the change in the system will not come all by itself; power must be confronted with power. He also said that Bangladesh is not a poor country, it has resources but it is being misused. He has urged for the

proper distribution of wealth in the society.
Last of all, Dr. S.M. Masum Billah, Associate Professor, Department of Law, Jagannath University, and Director of Human Rights Summer School, ELCOP had made the closing remarks and propose the vote of thanks.

Community Football Coaches Training held in Dhaka

First day of community football coaches training organized By Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) in Dhaka Abahani Limited Play ground on 23-24 March 2022. The Training  has covered hands on experience in different aspects of football theoretically and practically.  Coach Developer Mário Lemos for shared his vast knowledge and experience with community coaches.  9 community Coaches from 6 districts in Bangladesh came to join the training.
community football coaches training has covered community coaches ideas of different skills and tactical and technical training. Way of adopt training according to the context and utilize limited available resources for maximum outcome. We can’t thank you enough Mário Lemos for being inspirational educator and sharing different ideas to young coaches. Sincere gratitude to Abahani Limited
for your kind support to allowing us to conduct the session and use the ground . Special thanks to all the coaches to come all the way from rural communities to join the training. Gratitude to our all time supporter Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed to his financial support to make this happen .

Inter Village Football competition held to bring the community together

Tea garden workers are one of the cluster groups of people who are severely deprived of basic rights (Das and Jakirul, 2014). The tea workers are generally isolated from mainstream society for their historical and ethnic background.
Sports for Hope and Independence Bangladesh believe that sport is the most versatile medium of inclusion and bringing the community together. A sports week of multi-sports competitions held in Sreemangal, Moulvi Bazar. Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed Inter-village football competitions are held in Under 10, Under 14, and adult levels among the tea garden communities and other mainstream communities.
Disability sports and Girls and women sports competitions were also held to break the barriers of negative attitudes towards disability and stereotypes of girls’ participation in sporting activities.
Our sincere gratitude to Mr. Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed, Mst. Maqusuda Chowdhury , Zavi and Noor Rahman for their financial support to make this happen.

Celebrated IDPD 2021 through organising “Disability Sports Festival.

On the occasion of   International Day for Person with Disabilities (IDPD ) 2021 Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) organised a day long sports festival for children with disabilities at SHI training centre in Sreemangal. 63 children with disabilities came to participate the events .

According to Shikha Rani Boidya “My children never got the opportunity to play. I felt very emotional to see my daughter is playing and smiling with other boys and girls. I can imagine her feelings and happiness while playing. I would be grateful if SHI can provide more opportunity for my daughter to play and have fun like other children”

Ogrojatra Rugby Club became National Club Rugby Champion

We are delighted to inform you that , Ogrojatra Rugby Club (a club of Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI ) won the BangaBandhu 1st National Club Rugby championship. Life has been hard for most of players of the team as almost everyone of the team grew up poverty. Most of the players of the team are working as a labor in daily basis. Rugby is way of forget the hardship for the players.

 

According to Arif Billah ” When SHI introduced us to rugby people used to making fun of us that why we are wasting our times but now they are very proud of our achievement. The want their children to come practice with us now. I would like to convey sincere gratitude to SHI for their continuous support and training opportunity to become the national champion ”

Congratulations to all the players , officials and supporters. Sincere gratitude to Ms. Maqusuda Chowdhury for her continuous financial support.

Food support for flood affected people in Sariakandi, Bogura

Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in northern Bangladesh since the last week of August. According to the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre, the most affected districts include Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Tangail, Rajbari, Sartiatpur, and Bogura. More than 40,000 households were affected, 7759 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged, and more than 200 houses have been destroyed. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) supported 200 families with the daily needs at Sariakandi, Bogura. Our sincere gratitude to Chowdhury’s, Rahman’s, and Kashem’s for their generous financial support to make this happen. Our special thanks to @Muhammad Shafiq and his team to organize the distribution smoothly.

Tree Plantation by children and youth at Bagerhat

Bangladesh is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. … It has been estimated that by 2050, one in every seven people in Bangladesh will be displaced by climate change. Up to 18 million people may have to move because of sea-level rise alone.

When it comes to removing human-caused emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere, trees are a big help. Through photosynthesis, trees pull the gas out of the air to help grow their leaves, branches, and roots. Forest soils can also sequester vast reservoirs of carbon.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) understand the risk of Bangladesh and believe that through using sport to educate and advocate the children and youth we can minimize the risk. SHI uses sports pitches as a platform to educate children and youth on climate action. 4000?- (Four Thousand)  tree has been planted by children and youth participants at Bagerhat

MoU signed with LEEDO for upcoming Streetchildren World CUP 2022

Sports for Hope and Independence (#shiBangladesh) signed a partnership agreement with the Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO). This MOU is intended to align the objectives to preparing the Street children (girls) for the upcoming Street Children World cup 2022 in Doha. LEEDO expert in street children rehabilitation and SHI expert in Sport for development both organizations come together to develop street children team to perform well while representing Bangladesh in the Street children World cup 2022

Developing coaching culture in Bangladesh

Sports for Hope and Independence is helping train community football coaches to build the next generation of footballers in Bangladesh.

Coaches change lives. It is important to have community coaches with the knowledge and skills to help children and youth develop their football and social skills. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) understands the value of community coaches and has a vision of developing coaches across Bangladesh.

A good coach not only teaches football but also teaches other aspects of life. Grassroots coaches are in primary contact with children and youth and are in an important position to develop their life skills. The sad reality is that many grassroots coaches do not have many opportunities to develop their coaching skills.

Mario Lemos is one of the most well-respected professional coaches in Bangladesh and is the Head Coach at Abahani Club Limited, one of the best football clubs in the country. He is volunteering with SHI to develop a coaching culture in Bangladesh by building the skills of community coaches. Community coaches from across Bangladesh have been joining virtual sessions with Lemos, with on-field sessions scheduled to start once the COVID-19 situation permits.

Lemos has built sessions from his vast knowledge of football coaching and working in different countries. Through his sessions, Lemos and SHI aim to empower coaches with the knowledge, skills, and social values needed to build up children and youth in Bangladesh as the next generation of footballers.

Trainee Marium Begum stated that it has been very difficult for women and girls to find an opportunity to learn about coaching, given the Bangladeshi context. She feels lucky to have found this opportunity to learn from Lemos, her favorite club’s coach. Lemos has already started impacting lives and through the journey of various community coaches, will hopefully continue to impact and empower other girls through football.