This blog is the second part of a two-part series. In this blog, we will delve deeper into how Kavitha’s life transformed since joining Pudiyador, and her plans for the future.
AM: What would you like to achieve for yourself through Playquity? What are some skills/ experiences that you look forward to in the coming years?
K: I aspire to be bolder myself as well as empower my children and my cohort. While I take pride in my current ability to communicate and teach, I am committed to strengthening my English proficiency- I am able to speak more fluently and articulately. To give an example, I initially used to write in Tamglish (Tamil +English). However, I am now able to compose more than half of my messages in English thanks to tools like Google Translate and conversations with other coaches.
My experience with teaching has also created an interest in learning about the world. I wish to learn about politics, government initiatives and current affairs. I also look forward to learning skills such as documentation and working with Excel. I want to learn many more languages, teach kids hailing from other states in India, and travel extensively by flights and undertake solo bike trips.
AM: How has your life changed since you started playing Ultimate Frisbee?
K:(smiles) I did not know much about the outside world before I started playing ultimate frisbee. Once I came to the city, I began to travel alone more often. I have a lot more friends. I have also become physically stronger since I began to play. My knowledge about the world, my self confidence, and self worth have improved massively. I was able to understand my rights, and began to see instances of where I was being treated poorly. People in my village pitied me after I became a widow. While it bothered me previously, it does not bother me anymore. I have become more self confident, and I think clearly. With more motivation to do my work perfectly, I am optimistic about giving my best at Playquity.
AM: How do you envision the third stage, where girls of your cohort lead and teach boys? What challenges and/or learnings do you anticipate?
Envisioning the third stage holds promise, but has challenges. A major concern is acceptance. If I begin to include boys in frisbee sessions, parents might stop sending their girls. Additionally, as far as my experience with boys in English classes goes, they tend to be less focused and easily distracted as compared to the girls, and raises doubts about their willingness to participate in the spirit circle discussions, and respecting each other.
Yet another challenge that I am currently facing is that by the time I complete the first stage for the older girls (aged 13-15), they have to transfer schools after class 8, and their participation in frisbee sessions declines. They are either stopped by their families from attending frisbee sessions, or have to prioritize tuitions. I find myself restarting from stage 1, which stands as my biggest challenge.
Thus, my focus is now on carrying out stage 1 successfully(conducting frisbee and indoor sessions for the girls). I have started including younger girls as well, trying to foster unity and instill values such as sharing and caring for each other. My goal is to empower all the girls to be confident and outgoing, while helping them realize the benefit of participating in sports.
AM: Do you think Playquity is changing the way women are perceived and their status in your town?
K: I would agree that it has changed to some extent. After I started teaching ultimate frisbee, many parents have understood my work and motivation. When I conduct home visits, and talk to parents about the improvement in their daughters, they are happy with the transformation in their daughters, and also talk to me about the changes that they wish to see in their girls. The parents and the society also respect me more now.
When I speak to the parents regarding their child’s progress in English lessons, they tend to be very happy. At the initial stages of the English learning program, I used to be given the opportunity to only teach classes 1-5. However, after 2-3 months, the 4th and 5th graders showed improvement in their vocabulary and sentence formation. Around August 2023, class teachers for the older girls approached me about teaching girls in 6th-8th grade as well, after having seen the improvement in the younger girls.
The girls in my cohort are more free and brave since they have begun to play. Some parents have also shown a lot of support for their children. Some of the parents drop off their children to the sessions despite the distance from their houses and schools. The support from educated parents is greater, owing to their understanding of the benefits of the language and sports sessions.
At the Playquity sessions, the girls learn exercises to strengthen them physically, they learn values such as sharing, caring, coping with failure, handling successes. The girls are more open, share their thoughts and feelings, and have become more confident. Post-Covid, I have encouraged the girls to engage in journal writing. This has led to improvements in their handwriting, spelling, and overall academic performance, as well as increased participation in school activities such as plays.
AM: As you look ahead to accomplish goals for yourself and your cohort, what kind of support would you require/ wish for?
K: My role involves not just conducting indoor and outdoor sessions, but also requires extensive planning. Sometimes, the parents of the girls have misunderstood my intentions, and believed that I am doing my job for money, leading to resistance and difficulty to include girls in the frisbee sessions. I work to help them understand that our efforts are aimed at benefiting their children and challenging traditional gender roles. Many parents still believe that their children will succeed by following stereotypical paths and gender roles. This perception should change. If it does, women and girls will be able to break away from stereotypes and pursue their dreams courageously.
With respect to the girls in my cohort, they need to understand the benefits of playing and the opportunity that they have got to succeed. The sport and Playquity offer the opportunity to succeed beyond the first stage and allow them to progress. One challenge I face is that the girls also tend to stop attending the sessions if the parents stop them. Girls and their parents need to look beyond the monetary value that this program has to offer. While the girls understand that I am teaching them the game, I would also like them to understand the extensive preparation that goes behind conducting these sessions. I want the girls to have patience and faith in their practice and effort, and I seek their understanding above all. This, coupled with greater support from my family, is all that I need to achieve the goals set for both my cohort and myself.
Sport, recreation and play improve children’s health outcomes and well being all over the world. Sports have the power to help children improve their health, social, leadership skills while having fun. Thus many organizations today use sports as a means to empower vulnerable youth due to its benefits such as improved health, confidence and gender equity among youth.
Even within the realm of sports, greater sponsorships, sport trainings for women, increasing the number of female coaches, equal opportunities and selection process, and greater support from families and their communities will help women establish careers in sport. Additionally, it will empower them with skills that will allow them to succeed in the career of their choice. With respect to coaches, we need more women like Kavitha who can shape and inspire young women from an early age, driving them towards success.
