Exciting news, we have launched the Grassroots Hockey Program in a new region! Kicking off in the district of Pune, we aim to educate through hockey in the state of Maharashtra. Fun is the key component in our programs and will help underprivileged children develop needed life skills.
From 18th January 2023 more than 20 coaches from Pune, Kedgaon, Lasurne and Phaltan came together at Sangam World Centre, Pune. Some coaches with hockey experience, some new at the game but with (PE) teaching experience. A good mix of backgrounds, trained for four days by three of our Bovelander Foundation trainers on hockey and how hockey is more than just a game.
Coaches also visited three schools and combined fun games with an introduction to hockey. To conclude the coaching course a total of 75 students joined on the kids’ hockey event at the Aanand Vidyankiketan High School. This is just the beginning, as from March 600 new players from 12 schools will train twice a week and will be engaged in sport and play through the our program. For the implementation of the program in Maharashtra we work together with NIRMAN, an Indian NGO based in Pune.
On 22nd January 2023 together with Floris Jan and board member Modini Kakade, our partners of the program, the trainers from the Netherlands and the newly trained coaches came together to officially launch the Maharashtra Grassroots Hockey Program. A celebration of the efforts to help underprivileged children develop through the power of hockey.
We are grateful for ARaymond India Pvt. Ltd and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable sport for development and support the first phase of our Grassroot Hockey Program in Maharashtra.