After School Programme for Underserved Children

Dear Maitri Friend,

The month of March has been like a roller-coaster ride for our Frisbee kids. 15 Maitri students were shortlisted to play at the Ashoka Ultimate Championship, a Frisbee tournament where teams from various cities and age groups participated. Maitri team, was one of the economically challenged community team participating in the championship as regular team.

From planning naming of the team Maitri Champs, to designing a logo and painting their T-shirts, testing their new pair of shoes amidst all the serious practice every Sunday and once a week for three weeks created excitement, camaraderie, a unique bond among the children and their mentors. It has given them the confidence and an experience to be creative. It was interesting to see the confidence and trust the families and children had in themselves, Maitri and the mentors when the children travelled for the first time in their lives out of the city as a team but without their families.

The tournament dates were 1st -2nd April’2017 at Ashoka University Campus, Sonepat,Haryana. The selected children were over joyed and filled with curiosity about the tournament as it was the first time kids were going on a two-day trip with friends and mentors for a tournament, a sport. Families of the children looked forward to seeing a new perspective and the growth and experience Ultimate Frisbee holds for the children. 

On the day of the tournament, they reached the Ashoka University Campus early morning, where the girls and boys were allotted their respected hostels to settle their luggage and get ready for the matches. Going to a world International University campus and being in a hostel was like visiting a Hotel for our community kids. Having a shower was a luxury, which they enjoyed to the most, for the joy of a shower had never been experienced by any one of them. To be able to take a shower for as long and with running water was a dream come true. The girls were fascinated with the idea of a cupboard for their clothes and putting them on hangers in the cupboard. 

In all 7 matches were played out of which Maitri team lost their first three matches. But that did not deter their confidence. They were so motivated that they were going to win that they played with  a zeal and enthusiasm ensuring they would win. They excitedly took on a opposing Team in a mid-night match. Their first ever experience of playing a match in mid night lights. After that, there was no looking back. They won all of the other matches.

Our participation in the tournament was about learning experiences and learning the spirit of the game. All the teams Maitri Champs had their match with appreciated their spirit and sportiness. Maitri Champs won an award for being The Most Spirited team of the championship. 

This tournament was about new experiences and learning sportsman spirit for the kids. One of the lessons they have learnt is honesty and passion for the game and to have team spirit and to be caring and sharing human beings. 

Summer Vacation becomes the summertime fun for the kids, which begin with the ringing of last bell in the school. Summer Vacation becomes the happiest moments for the kids as they get a long break from the daily hectic life of school and schoolwork. Every Summer Maitri organizes summer workshops for the children in the mornings where children come together to have fun. These workshops are designed not only for fun but also to provide new skills to the children.

In the month of May, a 10-day long arts and crafts workshop has been organised for the children. The aim of the workshop was to encourage the children to explore their world of imagination and use their creative skills. It is where creativity, ingenuity, and thinking outside the box begins for child development.

The kids have learnt to make paper plate fish, wind chimes, door hangings, photo frames, facemasks, paper bags and finger puppets. They even used the puppets in a fun and interactive story telling session. Children enjoyed the workshop and their smiles and thank-you’s told us that the workshop had indeed been a success.

There is more in-store for the children in the Month of June. A theatre workshop for the children where they can learn the craft of theatre and also enhance their confidence with emoting and expressive skills. 

I would like to thank you once again for your support. We greatly appreciate your kind thoughts and words. Your support make s a difference to the lives of the children and make them into productive citizens of tomorrow.