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Tomorrow's Foundation collaborated with Sport dans la Ville, France to conduct a 7 day long sports exchange programme between deprived children of Kolkata and France. The children will practice football, play friendly matches, learn new skills and visit historical and important places.

Sport dans la Ville: Sport dans la Ville was founded in March 1998 in Lyon (France) with the goal of creating a sports activities program that could be used to help underprivileged children who live in difficult neighborhoods. The program uses sports as a means to encourage young people to avoid antisocial behavior, teaching them the importance of teamwork, leadership and social integration. Around 2000 children are currently involved.

This program exchange programme has the following objectives:

• Exchange of sports skills between French and Indian youth who are interested in football.
• Exchange of ideas and experiences on sports as a medium of healing and personality development.
• Exposure to Indian and French culture.
• Learning new skills like yoga which benefits both mind and the body.
• Exposure to traditional Indian sports.
• Widening the views of youth who are on the verge of starting independent lives.

This exchange programme will be be followed by a visit by TF children and football trainers to France where they will learn finer skills of football. A football training institute will be set up in Kolkata by TF for the deprived children. Football will be used as therapy to uplift the confidence level of these children and inculcate p[ostive ambitions towards a better life.

The exchanges programme has stated on 17th, February and end on 24th, February, 2010. Everyday we will update this page with a pictorial report.

The Seventh & Final Day

Together we won hearts: it was the last day of this sports exchange programme. Today a final match was to be played between TF and Sport dans la Ville children.

Surajit - the youngest of all participants. We always face tough times in managing him classrooms. Same was true in the football grounds.

The match started with singing national anthem of India and France.

A tense moment of the match.

Kevin got hurt during the match - he had to leave the ground. Kevin was most popular among us because of his attitude and pro-activeness.

A dejected Michael - a sad moment for 'otherwise cheerful' Michael as he was ousted for committing foul.

Another tense moment of the match.

Sport dans la Ville coach Zidane trying to score a goal. The match ended in a 4-1 win for Sport dans la Ville team.

Organizers from Sport dans la Ville - Pierre and Solenne talking to a journalist.

Every participant of the exchange programme was presented with a memento.

A moment of love and affection - Solenne with TF president Ms. Ranju Ghosh and Secretary Ms. Kaberi Banerji.

The runners of team with their trophy.

The winners with their trophy.

A cultural programme was organized in the evening at TF Mother Project. More than 200 children participated in this programme.

Sport dans la Ville children playing tabla in the cultural programme. Everyone appreciated their spirited effort.

The Sixth Day

The sixth day also started with Yoga session at Kishore Bharati Krirangan

Mohammed seems to enjoy yoga session.

After yoga and football practice session the team visited Tollygunj Club to meet French Consulate Mr. Jean- Louis Rysto.

The surroundings of Tollygunj Club was a welcome change for the team.

Mr. Rysto invited the French and TF team for lunch. Here he is in discussion with Mr. Pierre EMONOT of Sport dans la Ville and Ms. Kaberi Banerjee, Ms. Anita Banerjea and Mr. Ashis Roy of Tomorrow's Foundation regarding a long term association for using sports for development.

The team was too tired, so, they went back to hotel after tabla class.

The Fifth Day

Today the French Team and TF children met children from 4 other NGOs of the city at play ground of St. Thomas School. The plan was to learn rugby and volleyball and play friendly matches.

Today's even was organized by Terra Indica. Here teams were being formed for coaching and practice games.

Practice match - rugby. Rugby was completely a new game for our children as well the visiting French team.

Established in 1789 - St. Thomas School is one of the oldest school of the country. The school has beautiful sports and games facilities.

Practice match - volleyball.

We had enough time after the practice matches - so we visited Kolkata Zoo. It was fun time everyone.

From the very first day the French team was interested in seeing a Royal Bengal Tiger. Here they did not miss that chance - and they climbed on the top for the same.

We had to go for a Hindi Movie today. On the way we stopped by Ravindra Sarovar Lake and watched the local boys playing Cricket and Football.

The day ended with visit to Priya Cinema where the group watched - My Name is Khan. They have never watched a Hindi Movie!

The Fourth Day

Today the first thing on our schedule was to visit Jyotishka Project of Tomorrow's Foundation where we provide bridge course education to children living in brick kilns. We had to cross river Damodar to reach the project site. On our way the French team sang their national anthem we sang ours.

The visiting team had a gala time with our children who seasonally migrated from Jharkhand to Howrah district with their parents.

One of our child Shibu showing his learning skills to the group.

The project visit was followed by visit to the picnic spot nearby. There was arrangements for learning to play Dhak - the Indian drum.

Some of the visiting members took great intertest in learning to play Dhak and started playing on their own.

The learning sessions gained its momentum with a group dance between French team and local football team. They were to play a friendly match later in the day.

Then all the local and French players visited local agricultural field. Again it was done by crossing the river.

It was lunch time and the French children volunteered to serve our children from brick kilns.

A friendly match was organized by Tomorrow's Foundation, its partners KPCWA and Barbaria Bratachari Sangha. The local players were too excited to play with a foreign team.

Lined up before the start of the match.

The team members were welcomed in Indian tradition.

A tense moment of the match.

Another tense moment. The local team put up a spirited fight though the French scored the first goal within first two minutes of the match. The local team lost by 0-4 goals but everyone praised their fighting spirit.

Thousands gathered around the ground to watch the match.

The French team had only 9 footballers but it was a 10 side match. So, our programme executive Mr. Arpan Bhattacharjee volunteered as their goalkeeper and did a good job.

Other side of the gathered crowd...

The French team rejoicing after wining the match.

The local team receiving their trophy from manager of the French team Mr. Pierre EMONOT.

Mr. Pierre EMONOT thanked the crowd and the organizers...

Captain of the winning team Mr. Nassim Zidane received the trophy from Head Teacher of the local school.

Vice President of Tomorrow's Foundation Mr. Arup Ghosh gifted a football to the local team.

It was a day full of excitement for everyone of us.....

The Third Day

The day started with Yoga Class at Kishore Bharati Krirangan.

For each of the visiting member yoga was very useful session and they participated whole heartedly.

Pranayam time.....

The yoga and paranayam session was followed by practicing football. Both teams joined the coaches to learn finer skills.

After practice session both the teams visited the factory of RB International Ltd. The company also provided them a lavish lunch.

From the factory of RB International Ltd they visited Belur Math and Dakshineshwar temple. Visit to Dakshineshwar was by boat ride over the Ganges. It was enjoyed by everyone.

Todays exchange progframme was ended with a visit to Dakshineshwar temple. The group was too tired to attend the English class.

 

The Second Day

The day started with welcoming the French Team to TF Admin Office following traditional Indian customs.

The team at the gate of TF Admin Office

Everyday we start with prayer. Chanting Gayatri Mantra, Holy Quran and reading out the messages of great men is part of this prayer. Today our visitors participated in this prayer.

This one was for the camera only!

TF Governing Body members Ms. Kaberi Banerji and Ms. Anita Banerjea explaining the activities of TF Card Project.

The TF Card Project employees and trainees showing the art and crafts. after TFCP the team also visited our Community Based Education Project and met the out-of-school children who were being provided with bridge course.

The football practice is being organized in Kishore Bharati Krirangan. The TF children are learning methods of effective physical exercise.

Shaping up to face the challenges..

Further physical exercise.

Learning the finer skills of game of football.

As part fo the cultural activities the French Team is learning Tabla. For the first time they touched Tabla but the teacher Mr. Biplab Sarkar remarked that they made good progress. On 23rd February some of them will certainly perform.

The First Day

The French children and coaches from Sport dans la Ville waiting for presentations to start. Eight children and two coaches have come for this exchange programme. The presentations were on Tomorrow's Foundation, India and Kolkata. We gathered in our Mother Project for this event.

The presentations were started with evryone introducing themselves. TF children and teachers joined the French children for this ocasion. A film on Tomorrow's Foundation was followed by the introductions.

The French group after the presentations - they had many questions on India and Kolkata but they were most interested in getting an opportunity to see a Royal Bengal Tiger!

Everyday, during this exchange programme,  the French students would learn English from our volunteer Mr. Shubhendu Sarkar. Mr. Sarkar is a linguist and has command over many languages.

A long day of journey and presentations was ended with a joint dinner between Sport dans la Ville and TF team.

Watch this space for on this exchange programme....