A quiet revolution is sweeping through Rurka Kalan, where sports are breaking down barriers and building bridges between generations.
The one small idea that came into a common man’s mind changed the view of an entire village. Yes, here I am talking about Gurmangal Das’s Soni the CEO and founder of Youth Football Club Rurka Kalan, Punjab.
I got a chance to visit Rurka Kalan a small village in Phillaur, Punjab. I saw how a society can be changed through the influence of sports.
In the initial days of YFC they used football as a tool for engaging the kids of the village, which later resulted in an increase of kids flowing into sports that made the organisation think of expanding and bringing in more sports activities.
The village at that time had a major drug issue among kids, as this organisation grew sports became a distraction for the kids and eventually it made a huge impact on the rural society.
One of the lady officials in the organisation shared with us that they gave high priority to girl students, since in Punjab it’s more likely girls are bound inside their home so this made them come out into the light and develop themselves. This made a huge change in their lifestyle such as kids became organised, their personal hygiene increased and they started feeling sports as a major part of their life.
Even though YFC had major financial issues in the beginning now it has flourished with numerous numbers of international and national sports players with funding from different part of the world and also YFC has developed it’s infrastructure and now they are equipped with hostel and mess services for the students.
They also contribute in sustainable development, one of their major work is that the waste collected from the institutions was used create transport roads in their locality.
Gurmangal Das, a man with a vision, kindled optimism in the sleepy Punjabi village of Rurka Kalan. He ventured to envision a time when athletics would act as a catalyst for positive change, improving people's lives and shattering obstacles. YFC was thus built. Children who had previously been lost to drugs were given a second chance at life and found their calling in athletics.
Girls who had been relegated to the shadows have become strong, self-assured people who are prepared to take on the world. Previously engulfed in gloom, the community was now enveloped in a radiance of promise and opportunity. It serves as a reminder that even in the most remote locations, one spark can start a revolution that will forever change people's lives and entire communities.
Comments
Post a Comment