Venue: Pratham Shelter Home, Mussafirkhana

Duration: 20th February 2008 to 22nd February 2008

Children: 71 boys

RoleModels: Brett Wheeler, Emma Staples, Martin Hirons, Jason Ryan & Vinod Kambli (Indian Cricketer)

Tour Reflections - Emma Staples:

Working in collaboration with Pratham (Council for Vulnerable Children) part of the Red Dust team were delivering sport and classroom curriculum to a group of children from very diverse and tragic family backgrounds. These 70 young boys live, play and are schooled in the one small shelter home, yet are one large caring family.

Traveling to the shelter home on the first day we were discussing the issues surrounding communication, as the children spoke at least two different languages, with English as their third or fourth language.  However, once we arrived, we discovered ways to effectively communicate with each other and in the endl,  anguage never emerged to be a barrier between ourselves and the children.

The first day we arrived I delivered a classroom session - ‘Identity Flags’, which is a great activity to start the day as it creates opportunity for learning about each child.  The flags are a reflection of where they come from, what inspires them and what their dreams are. It was in this session where I met a special young boy who had been at the shelter for a little over a week.  On his flag he drew a building which he told me was the Mumbai train station; asking him what was so special about this he told me through a translator that this is where he was found as ahomeless and abused child. The train station obviously played a significant part in his life that he will never forget. This session clearly indicated to the Red Dust team that we were working with very special and unique children that had remarkable life experience at such a young age.

Naturally, sport was hugely popular with a combination of sports of offer including; Cricket, Soccer and Basketball. Most of the boys dreamt of becoming cricketers like their Indian heroes and Marty and Jason refined their technique and improved upon their hand – eye coordination skills.   For most of the boys it was the first time they had touched a basketball, so not only was it a novelty playing the sport and learning to bounce, but Wheels towering over them helping them to shoot was amazing to watch.  Soccer was also well received and is a sport that is growing in popularity nationally. 

The two days ended with a performance of traditional song and dance and a reminder for us all that music is the universal language.

Come the end of the two-day program we all noted the amazing spirit of the children.  No matter what their backgrounds and personal tragedies they all had dreams and were committed to working towards them.  It was an absolute pleasure to mentor these boys and incredibly inspiring as an individual to have been given the opportunity to participate in the pilot program – thank you.

Emma Staples