DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER"

Dina York
5 years ago
Views:

1 DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER

2 Contents Project Partners & Supporters 3 About the Cover Pictures 4 Project Front Foot Dharavi Cricket Academy Rural Schools Initiative The Reluctant NGO 4 Reality Gives 5 Galaxy Surfactants 9 Fixer & Go-to Man 11 Lions Clubs of Dahisar & WE Club of Vasant Vihar 11 South Indian Education Society 12 Female Cricket 12 Ghanashyam Sports 13 The Parsee Bakery 13 Matunga Support Team 14

3 PROJECT PARTNERS PROJECT SUPPORTERS

About the Cover Pictures Time to say our Mumbai goodbyes. Project Front Foot The Reluctant NGO It would be fair to say that Project Front Foot (PFF) is a reluctant NGO.

4 About the Cover Pictures Time to say our Mumbai goodbyes. Project Front Foot The Reluctant NGO It would be fair to say that Project Front Foot (PFF) is a reluctant NGO. We are, in many respects, the worst nightmare for our partners. Why? First up, we have never seen ourselves as a charity or, heaven forbid, as aid workers. Strip away our registered charitable status and you ll find nothing more than a bunch of willing volunteer cricketers. Our world is not that of presentations, donor meetings, spreadsheets, funding and budgets. We inhabit the slightly less rarefied air of pitch, practice nets and pavilion with the occasional sortie to the bar. Secondly, we have come late to such ideals as empowerment, sustainability and life skills. We have nevertheless embraced them as if our own and can, when required, talk both eloquently and passionately about them. For us, however, the bottom line has never been anything more than seeing kids running around, hitting a ball, and having fun. Our mantra no less simple: let s have some fun, do some good. This is all very altruistic and well-meaning until you consider the daily demands of running a cricket project. While we have done our best on the ground in Mumbai and through various administrative ventures, this newsletter being one, our preference for spin bowling over spreadsheets does make us something of a problem partner. All the more reason, then, to champion the professionalism and fortitude of our main partner, Reality Gives. For ten long years they indulged our tracksuit management, quietly making good the deficiencies where necessary. Project Front Foot has no hesitation, then, in devoting this entire edition not only to all those at Reality Gives who helped make our work over the past decade possible, but to our many supporters and friends in and around Mumbai who played their part in this remarkable story.

Dharavi Cricket Academy Reality Gives The first couple of years were the most difficult for the project with coaching being the key problem.

In between time such duties were undertaken by Reality s co-founders, Chris Way and Krishna Pujari, along with the multi-talented Asim Shaikh and several of Reality s ancillary staff.

Before Allcargo Logistics came along with their funding in the autumn of 2015 I would bring the bulk of the clothing and kit needed for the season (courtesy of our friends at British Airways) from

5 Dharavi Cricket Academy Reality Gives The first couple of years were the most difficult for the project with coaching being the key problem. I would travel to Mumbai twice a year with kit and continue with the coaching. In between time such duties were undertaken by Reality s co-founders, Chris Way and Krishna Pujari, along with the multi-talented Asim Shaikh and several of Reality s ancillary staff. The picture opposite was taken at our first inter-club match at Shivaji Park on 27th November Before Allcargo Logistics came along with their funding in the autumn of 2015 I would bring the bulk of the clothing and kit needed for the season (courtesy of our friends at British Airways) from the UK. We would buy the cricket boots, but everything else was donated by generous supporters. This led to some very funny kit distribution days where chaos and cricket made for a heady mix. Once again, Reality staff played a huge part in kitting the kids out. The very next coaching session after the kit had been distributed made all the hard work worthwhile as the Dharavi kids, who had previously turned up in jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals and flip-flops, now looked every inch the aspiring young cricketers in their shirts, flannels, boots and caps. Looking the part also had a positive impact on their play and performances.

If Chris and Krishna made an initial impact on the project, it was Asim and Mayur Parmar who provided the

He was always on hand to take the player register, coach where necessary, and liaise with the Dharavi kids.

Mayur was ever keen to participate in the project whether it meant being first at the community centre to

s apartment as we waited for a lorry to bring our air-freighted kit; or just simply to meet me and any

The late night kit vigil comes most readily to mind as not only did we have the interminable wait, but once

6 If Chris and Krishna made an initial impact on the project, it was Asim and Mayur Parmar who provided the continuity for Reality. Asim proved the consummate all-rounder. He was always on hand to take the player register, coach where necessary, and liaise with the Dharavi kids. Indeed, I turned to Asim only a few weeks ago to source a Dharavi print company for the new project banners. Mayur was ever keen to participate in the project whether it meant being first at the community centre to sort the boots, shirts and flannels for our kit distribution days; or to keep a fifteen hour vigil at Chris s apartment as we waited for a lorry to bring our air-freighted kit; or just simply to meet me and any number of bags at the airport with a Reality vehicle for the run to our temple basecamp. The late night kit vigil comes most readily to mind as not only did we have the interminable wait, but once the lorry arrived a little after midnight we then had to tote the 29 bags and boxes up four flights of stairs! Pictured opposite, Mayur unloads project kit before the long march.

Two years into the project, however, and despite a willing band of volunteers we still lacked continuity in coaching.

Having a female head coach also brought a new dynamic to the Dharavi kids in the form of a strong female role model.

To Bhavana and Harshad s energy and enthusiasm Reality added the expertise of Peter Woolcock as Director of Sport.

structure. A remarkable achievement not least as his preference was more for water than wickets.

7 Two years into the project, however, and despite a willing band of volunteers we still lacked continuity in coaching. This was remedied in the autumn of 2011 with the recruitment of Bhavana Patil and Harshad Bhojnaik. Having a female head coach also brought a new dynamic to the Dharavi kids in the form of a strong female role model. Within minutes of her first coaching session, Bhavana had won them over with the kids racing around, laughing, having the best fun, but knowing they had to listen to her. To Bhavana and Harshad s energy and enthusiasm Reality added the expertise of Peter Woolcock as Director of Sport. A graduate of Exeter University, Peter made an immediate mark by introducing fitness tests for the Dharavi kids and, with input from Chris, the coaches and myself, produced a first class coaching structure. A remarkable achievement not least as his preference was more for water than wickets. When not overseeing matters at the Gymkhana, Peter founded the Reality Gives girls football team which is still going strong today. One name that has rarely appeared in these newsletters is that of James Pearson, managing director in the spring of 2015 of ECU Line in Southampton, a subsidiary of Allcargo Logistics in Mumbai. I wrote to James, along with many others that February, in a desperate hope to gain funding of any kind to keep the project afloat. Unbeknownst to me, James forwarded my mail to the Corporate Social Responsibility team at Allcargo. A week later I received a mail from Dr Nilratan Shende at Allcargo s HQ in Mumbai seeking more information about the cricket programme.

I immediately put him in touch with Letizia De Martino, now CEO at Reality Gives, and she in turn brought in Reality s Funding & Marketing Director, Joseph Bird.

2015. The role of Reality s Funding & Marketing Director, vital to the continuation of the cricket programme, was taken on recently by Charlotte Watkins.

In the meantime, Lethy (pictured above left) oversees all things cricket related, but not without the final key member of the Reality team, Ravi Shahu.

For the past few seasons he has worked tirelessly in recruiting players, liaising with kids and coaches, filing reports, taking many of the pictures that have appeared both in

The roll call of support is not complete without the various assistants and volunteers who have contributed to the project.

8 I immediately put him in touch with Letizia De Martino, now CEO at Reality Gives, and she in turn brought in Reality s Funding & Marketing Director, Joseph Bird. With Lethy and Joe working on funding requirements and budgets, and Nilratan and Allcargo keen to support the project, the Dharavi Cricket Academy came into being in November The role of Reality s Funding & Marketing Director, vital to the continuation of the cricket programme, was taken on recently by Charlotte Watkins. We wish her well in her future liaison with Nilratan and Allcargo. In the meantime, Lethy (pictured above left) oversees all things cricket related, but not without the final key member of the Reality team, Ravi Shahu. Pictured with the victorious Dharavi U14 team in May 2017, Ravi is one of those unsung heroes who is indispensable to a project of this kind. For the past few seasons he has worked tirelessly in recruiting players, liaising with kids and coaches, filing reports, taking many of the pictures that have appeared both in these newsletters and on our Facebook page, carrying out kit stocktakes, and is the prime mover behind the Academy awards evening. The roll call of support is not complete without the various assistants and volunteers who have contributed to the project. Andrew Derlien, pictured opposite, played his part in working alongside Allcargo on funding. At Reality s HQ I should mention Suman, Jyoti, Karthiker and Banu along with volunteers Adina, Elouise, Lydia, Luana and Nadia. Ganesh coached the Dharavi kids during those first unsteady months, while HB Sports enlisted some talented assistants in Janardan, Akshay, Hertesh, Raja, Jiggar and, on the administrative side, Alpita. All played their part during the past ten years. We thank and salute them all.

Rural Schools Initiative Galaxy Surfactants The origin of our Rural Schools Initiative was a simple question posed by the late Mr P R Subramanian back in November 2009. Did I have any surplus kit?

That autumn Suby and I distributed the surplus kit to orphanages in Chembur and Matunga. Returning three months later, Suby sourced a further four orphanages for our kit.

Ramu (pictured next to Suby) lived at the back of the temple in Matunga and was keen to play a part in Project Front Foot.

9 Rural Schools Initiative Galaxy Surfactants The origin of our Rural Schools Initiative was a simple question posed by the late Mr P R Subramanian back in November Did I have any surplus kit? Suby had been the prime mover along with Mr K Satya Murthy in the project securing use of the Indian Gymkhana Ground in Matunga. That autumn Suby and I distributed the surplus kit to orphanages in Chembur and Matunga. Returning three months later, Suby sourced a further four orphanages for our kit. On the journey back to Matunga that afternoon Suby (pictured above far left) handed me his mobile and said, have a word with Ramu. This was to be a project affirming conversation. Ramu (pictured next to Suby) lived at the back of the temple in Matunga and was keen to play a part in Project Front Foot. We met at Mani s Lunch Home for coffee and threw around a few ideas; the involvement of his former employer, Galaxy Surfactants, being one. The following autumn Ramu, along with Galaxy staff members Ramakant and Milind, sourced several schools in and around Tarapur in the north of the state. This was the first of many road trips. Galaxy s Corporate Social Responsibility team were already working in these schools providing a variety of support from new toilet blocks, to IT labs, to clean water, to solar lighting. Project Front Foot simply dovetailed this work by adding cricket to the curriculum.

The very first school visited (pictured above) led to an urgent rethink of our approach. First, the narrow post-monsoon rutted road brought the need to transfer to a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

A kindly welcome and lengthy ceremony followed, but at this rate we were unlikely to visit more than a couple of schools in the day.

On the day, Chand would expertly combine F1 and off-road skills to get us out of Mumbai as quickly as possible.

10 The very first school visited (pictured above) led to an urgent rethink of our approach. First, the narrow post-monsoon rutted road brought the need to transfer to a four-wheel-drive vehicle. When we arrived at the school 300+ kids were already sitting cross-legged under trees with a greeting party of the headmaster and staff members waiting. A kindly welcome and lengthy ceremony followed, but at this rate we were unlikely to visit more than a couple of schools in the day. Our refined approach saw Ramu liaise with Galaxy to set the date and number of schools. I would prepare and pack the kit. On the day, Chand would expertly combine F1 and off-road skills to get us out of Mumbai as quickly as possible. Ramakant, Milind and latterly Mr Satawee would source the various schools along with a possible route. On arrival Chand and I would retrieve the kit; Ramakant would speak to the assembled about our work and kit; time permitting the kids and I would have an impromptu net. Ramu, meanwhile, would oversee the visit, take pictures and engage staff and kids. Well planned days, then, but the first Ramu-inspired task before leaving Matunga was always to buy breakfast. Distrust all ventures that do not include food! As with all such road trips, the Idli, Vada and chutney never tasted better. It was always good to get out of the city. These were long, tiring, sticky, fun days in the back of beyond, but the smiles and greetings made it all worthwhile. As recently as October - and discounting the return journey north - we managed to distribute kit to six schools during a four-hour period; the largest having around 700 pupils the smallest just fifty. In the last ten years PFF has supported 150+ schools, orphanages and sporting projects; and it all started with a simple phone call from Suby to Ramu. I cannot thank the team at Galaxy enough for making this possible, nor Vinod for providing our vehicle. To this number I should add Adarsh who took Ramu and me to schools in Navi Mumbai a couple of years ago. The last word on Galaxy s part in this venture rightly goes to Ramakant who, just a few short weeks ago, described these days as the best of his year.

Fixer & Go-to Man This is an opportune moment, sandwiched neatly between Galaxy and the Lions Club, to offer a few words about the project s fixer and go-to man in Mumbai, Mr Vijay Ramachandran.

During recent visits he surpassed himself by finding me a dentist, a GP, and when I was struggling with eye trouble taking me to a nearby clinic.

Displaying all the traits of a Jacques Kallis, Ramu proved the perfect all-rounder for our cricket project. It s fitting then that in the picture opposite Ramu is captured with raised bat.

11 Fixer & Go-to Man This is an opportune moment, sandwiched neatly between Galaxy and the Lions Club, to offer a few words about the project s fixer and go-to man in Mumbai, Mr Vijay Ramachandran. Ramu s proximity to the temple was perfect placement for me to drop in for coffee, breakfast, lunch, gossip, televised cricket, and project planning. During recent visits he surpassed himself by finding me a dentist, a GP, and when I was struggling with eye trouble taking me to a nearby clinic. In between time he booked my room at the temple, liaised with Lions Club members for our school visits, and oversaw all things Galaxy-related. Displaying all the traits of a Jacques Kallis, Ramu proved the perfect all-rounder for our cricket project. It s fitting then that in the picture opposite Ramu is captured with raised bat. No one deserves the applause more than he. The Lions Club of Dahisar & WE Club of Vasant Vihar Three or four years ago Ramu called saying that he was bringing a friend to the temple to meet me and, if possible, pick up a couple of bats and balls. Enter: Mr JNS Murthy of the Lions Club of Dahisar. This was another of those fortuitous Ramu-inspired meets in which Project Front Foot was able to team up with JNS and the Lions to support a variety of schools in both inner-city slums and country towns. JNS then introduced the project to Mala Shetty and the ladies of the WE Club of Vasant Vihar. These connections were invaluable in that we were able to reach schools in areas where we would not ordinarily have access; one even greeted our arrival with a fanfare. Many thanks to both JNS and Mala for their interest and support.

South Indian Education Society Yet another Ramu-inspired kit query brought me into contact with Ganesh of the South Indian Education Society (SIES),

While noble work, there remains little set aside for recreation.

My thanks to Ganesh and Dr Shankar for taking PFF into remote areas and for enabling us to again reach kids and communities that others cannot.

Despite the fact that we had a female head coach we couldn t get girls to attend the Dharavi project.

12 South Indian Education Society Yet another Ramu-inspired kit query brought me into contact with Ganesh of the South Indian Education Society (SIES), an organisation that supports the rural poor. We again dovetailed the work, this time of SIES, in remote villages around the state. While noble work, there remains little set aside for recreation. This was where Project Front Foot was happy to help by providing kit for these various school and village communities. My thanks to Ganesh and Dr Shankar for taking PFF into remote areas and for enabling us to again reach kids and communities that others cannot. Female Cricket More than once during our association with the Mumbai cricketing scene I was asked: where are the girl cricketers? Good question. Despite the fact that we had a female head coach we couldn t get girls to attend the Dharavi project. It was with more than a little relief then when I was contacted by Vishal Yadav of Female Cricket. Formed specifically to promote the game among girls and young women, we were delighted to donate clothing and equipment to this excellent cause. A vital contribution to the cricketing community, we wish Vishal and Srinath every success in the future.

Ghanashyam Sports Over the last decade support for Project Front Foot has come from various quarters and in all shapes and sizes.

Not only did he guide us through the difficult waters of purchasing equipment, but his staff also attached dozens of rubber grips to our various wood and plastic bats.

In between time, his shop proved a useful bolthole to escape the heat and idle away a little air-conditioned time with hot, sweet coffee and much sporting chat.

13 Ghanashyam Sports Over the last decade support for Project Front Foot has come from various quarters and in all shapes and sizes. On the commercial side I must single out Mehul and his team at Ghanashyam Sports in Matunga who played a significant part in making PFF s time in Mumbai such a roaring success. Not only did he guide us through the difficult waters of purchasing equipment, but his staff also attached dozens of rubber grips to our various wood and plastic bats. Having ordered our kit Mehul would then store the bats and wicket sets in his warehouse before arranging for the various over-sized boxes to be delivered to the temple by cab. In between time, his shop proved a useful bolthole to escape the heat and idle away a little air-conditioned time with hot, sweet coffee and much sporting chat. The Parsee Bakery The Parsee bakery, another welcoming bolthole, was to be found in the atmospheric Lanes a short walk from the temple. This was Old Bombay: poorly lit, four-storey tenement blocks, a myriad of small tailoring shops, stalls selling college texts, questionable cafes, and just enough space for the kids to play gully cricket. Established in the early 1930s, the bakery was owned and run by Hushang. I was a regular there along with long-time project supporter, Kannan. One particular autumn I d been teasing Hushang about turning the premises into a sports bar. Everything was already in place: a counter to lean on, cabinets for the snacks, and a fridge to keep the beer cool. All we needed was a flat screen TV for the cricket. To his credit Hushang bought into the idea and one evening, his bread sold, pulled down the shutters and (albeit minus TV) laid on food and drinks. This was the first ever recorded lock-in at a bakery. Kannan loved it! The evening ended with me being offered a job as delivery boy and Hushang having to drive Kannan home on the back of his scooter. This part of old Bombay, along with the bakery, no longer exists; in its place a construction site for two 40-storey tower blocks. The bakery lives on, however, having relocated to King s Circle. Sadly, Kannan passed away during my recent visit. Hushang and I met at the bakery a few days later to lift a glass in his memory.

One particular steamy surreal Mumbai November evening saw us dissecting Jardine s 1932-1933 Bodyline tour of Australia bouncer by bouncer, bruise by bruise.

14 Matunga Support Team Last, but by no means least, I owe a huge debt of thanks to what became, over the years, my Matunga Support Team. The memory blurs at the number of evenings I spent at Satya s yarning away about cricket. One particular steamy surreal Mumbai November evening saw us dissecting Jardine s Bodyline tour of Australia bouncer by bouncer, bruise by bruise. Into this support cabal I gladly include Karthik, Kicha, Anil, Shaker, Doc Bharat, Ramu and the late Ram. There were many others, too, and I must apologise for my failure to remember names and appearances. Two things I tried to remember during such evenings was to keep the conversation away from politics and, where possible and without hurting his feelings, to decline any offer of a lift on the back of Anil s ageing motor scooter. Those occasions, when the latter failed, would see me white-knuckled and clinging for dear life onto the pillion as Anil sallied forth into the King s Circle roundabout (one of the busiest and ill-disciplined in Mumbai) with buses and cabs coming from all directions. Undaunted, Anil slowed, wobbled, wobbled again, gave a brief semaphore hand signal and then, on little more than a whim, selected one of the many slip roads to glide nonchalantly into and out of the storm of horns and gestures. Such lifts, of course, would come at the end of long evenings of drink and debate. The strangest thing, too, is that the more Satya and the gang drank the more their conversation would stray from English to Hindi. For my part, I gave all the appearance of understanding and declined any offer of translation. Indeed, there were occasions when I left the apartment convinced I was fluent in Hindi and damn near up to speed in Tamil! These were wonderful evenings and went a long way to making Matunga a home away from home. There will be others, I m sure, but for the moment my heartfelt thanks to Satya and the gang. I wouldn t have missed these times for the world. Vic Mills. Berlin. December 2018.

OCTOBER 2018 NEWSLETTER: MUMBAI SPECIAL

OCTOBER 2018 NEWSLETTER: MUMBAI SPECIAL Contents Project Partners & Supporters 3 About the Cover Pictures 4 Project Front Foot (UK) Project Front Foot (India) Sort & Pack Ten 4 PFF Picture Archive 5 Kit