Empowering Bedia community girls
The Bedias are a poor tribal community from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. To empower children and provide them with a better future, Abhyudaya Ashram, a residential school for boys and girls in Morena, was established in 1992 by Ram Snehi. To give children the necessary life skills and education, the Ashram uses the tool of sport effectively.
An ordinary day at the Ashram starts at 5 a.m. with a walk and prayer. Then the girls play sports like taekwondo, kho-kho and kabbadi. In the evening again, they participate in sporting activities. “You can see the way women are pressurized and treated in the world. Sports empowers them to face various challenges and helps in creating self-esteem and confidence,” says Aruna Chari, a teacher at the Ashram.
The girls have proven themselves on the field. Many are champions in taekwondo and have played at state and national levels. “We don't want the girls to fall behind in anything. For us the girls are of higher priority than the boys,” says Aruna.