Transformation journey through sports – News

The air was heavy as we walked through the narrow, hilly streets, humming with the sound of daily struggles. Dwellings consisted of shacks made of tarpaulins and rusted metal, offering little protection to the families who occupied them. As we continued walking, we saw children with torn clothes and bare feet, dribbling football. Resilient spirits and smiling faces: This is the power of sports.

Sports have always been an important part of my life. During the summer holidays last year, I had the chance to train for my badminton nationals at the Padukone-Dravid Sports Center of Excellence in India. A few weeks later my determination and my coach’s hard work paid off when I earned my national ranking.

After my badminton matches and a few days before the end of the holiday, I started looking for volunteer opportunities where I could coach young children. I came across Being Child Care after observing a young boy deftly maneuvering a football with his bare feet. When I entered the center, I encountered a large group of children. Random pieces of worn-out sports equipment lay in the far corner. Throughout the afternoon, what caught my attention repeatedly were the bright faces of children walking past battered footballs and swinging wooden bats that were supposed to be cricket bats; their laughter was ready to overcome any obstacle that came their way. At that moment I realized that sports could be more than just entertainment; They can offer hope, an escape from daily struggles, a platform that connects diverse people and transcends circumstances.

When I returned to Dubai, as sports continued to shape my life in positive ways, I wanted others to benefit from the transformative powers of sports. I became the founder of a simple but effective strategy to empower those who are lacking in need but full of determination. With the help and support of my parents and my mentors at Hale Education Group, Equip2Empower, which was just an idea, became a youth organization aimed at providing sports equipment to underprivileged children.

Today, Equip2empower has more than 25 chapters worldwide; There are students who can proudly represent us and our mission in their schools and cities. We have a sports spot that will soon turn into a magazine, where we capture the stories of athletes and spread awareness about the field of opportunities that sports bring to people. We are currently working with different beneficiaries (Harmony House India, Being Child Care, Rescue Foundation, Al Jalila Foundation) and four strategic partners. By working together to meet the needs of these young children, we ensure that their dreams of becoming athletes/women come true. We have carried out many successful sports-related collection campaigns and are in the process of donating them to orphanages and organizations both locally and internationally.