2024 in review

In 2024, thousands of children in India experienced the power of our hockey programs; making friends, developing life skills, and playing in safe spaces created by dedicated coaches. The many smiles and all the small steps that were made in hockey and their challenging lives, makes us happy and proud again. We are excited for the new year.

Jharkhand

This year, we once again conducted several coaching courses in Jharkhand, combining hockey technical training with life skills workshops on themes such as TeamworkSame but Different, and Empowerment. These workshops were also a key focus during the final course of the year in December.

In the first week, Mistral, Erik Jan, and Bruno worked with an enthusiastic group of coaches in Gumla. They then traveled to Khunti to lead a course for advanced coaches. It was inspiring to witness the dedication and passion of the coaches who, like us, are eager to continue developing and to pass on the knowledge they gain during our courses to the children they work with.

Pune

Our grassroots program with our partner ARaymond continues to thrive, driving impactful change at the community level. This month, we are excited to welcome two new schools, bringing the total number of schools in Pune and PCMC to seven.

In an expansion, we partnered with TATA Realty and PSEPL to launch a new project along the Pune-Solapur highway in March. This initiative has grown significantly, with four more schools joining this month, taking the total in this district to eight.

Adding to the momentum, Kim, Ewout, and Merel conducted a series of dynamic coaching workshops. Together, Dutch and Indian trainers delivered engaging hockey sessions at various schools in our Pune projects. It was inspiring to witness the children’s excitement as many experienced hockey for the very first time. Their enthusiasm and radiant smiles served as a great reminder of hockey’s ability to inspire young minds.

As we reflect on this year, we are very proud of the progress in Pune. With an increasing number of coaches—now including more female coaches—we are on track to reach nearly 1,000 children soon!

Looking ahead to 2025

We look back with pride on a highly successful year where hockey was used as a powerful tool for development. The impact speaks for itself! For the new year we’re excited to

  • expand in Maharashtra and Jharkhand,
  • welcome HC Bloemendaal’s women’s team to inspire girls in Khunti and Pune,
  • launch a hockey program for slum kids in Kolkata with Future Hope.

A big thank you to our partners, coaches, and supporters for their dedication and enthusiasm. Together, we are making a meaningful difference!

You Might Also Like