Thursday 28 August 2014

Reality Gives' Programs - "football has made me strong and confident"

Recently Goal Click asked us to help them identify a girl in Dharavi to take an analog camera with 27 shots on it and capture insights into their experience of football in Dharavi as part of their world wide mission to 'provide a person in every country with one analogue camera and one roll of film to take photos that symbolise football in their country'.
To determine which of the girl's would be charged with this challenge we asked them to write an essay entitled 'Why should I be the Goal Click representative'. In this blog article, we capture a little more information about our winner, Blessy, and find out what football means to her...
“Football has made me strong and confident” says 14yr old Blessy Sippora. Blessy is in her 10th grade doing her schooling from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Sion, Mumbai. She lives in Dharavi, where her family has been residing for 40 years now. She is the eldest among her siblings. Her younger sister is in the 9th grade and is also a member of the Girls Football team. 
Blessy has been playing football for two years now and thinks that playing the sport has brought a lot of changes in her life. “I have not only become fit but have also learned life skills like team work, discipline, communication to name a few. Even though I am in the 10th grade, my mother encourages me to play because I have learned to manage time for studies and practice sessions. A lot of people know me now and I get chance to make new friends and visit new places. My parents are proud of me and that makes me happy!”
 
Blessy in action against the Oberoi School Girls' Football Team earlier this year

In her free time she enjoys reading, watching TV and of course playing football. Her dream is to play professional football and encourage girls from Dharavi to take up the sport and follow her footsteps.

She says, “I am really happy that I got the opportunity to showcase how football is played in my locality - that even girls can play football! I am not a photographer but I'll try to take good pictures. I have the best team and the bestest coach who are always there to help and support me. I know there are only 27 shots. So, I will try not to make mistakes and capture the best moments.”

When she's through all 27 shots, Blessy will send her camera back to the UK where the pictures will be used in an exhibition compiled of participants photos from across the globe. Can't wait to see the results!!

Friday 8 August 2014

Reality Runs - Mumbai Marathon 2015

This year Reality Gives are strapping on our trainers, hitting the tarmac and gearing up for the Mumbai Marathon 2015, and we want you to join us!

Established in 2004 the Mumbai Marathon is the largest marathon in Asia and amongst the top 10 in the world (it’s also the largest mass participation event in Asia) with 40,000 participating in the event last year.

The Mumbai Marathon 2015 will take place on Sunday 18th January 2015 and features three main events; the Full Marathon (42km), Half Marathon (21km) and Dream Run (6km). 

Passing CST Station, Haji Ali and running over the Sea Link, the
event offers a unique way to see Mumbai

As well as being an incredible sporting occasion, the event also represents a great way to raise funds with last year seeing Rs.179,000,000 raised for 232 NGOs. As an officially recognised NGO participating in the event we are able to support schools, corporates and individuals in entering the race and raising funds for us. Reality Gives wants YOU.

Individuals - For the first time ever we have 12 places up for grabs for you to take part in either the marathon, half marathon or dream run! The cost of a charity bib is Rs.8,000 and includes a t-shirt to run in, a 'Short Tour of Dharavi', a team-building 'Bicycle Tour' with your fellow runners, a bespoke fundraising plan designed in conversation with our Fundraising and Marketing Director and a HUGE number of fundraising incentives to help spur you on to your fundraising targets.

Schools - This year the 'Student Challenge' has been introduced, with space for 20 educational institutes to register teams of 5 students to raise Rs.50,000 and compete in the ‘Dream Run’ category of the Marathon. Teams are able to add up to 15 members for every Rs.10,000 additional funds they raise above the (Rs.50,000) and can be made up of students of 12yrs or above and can also include teachers, staff, donors and alumni (though a minimum of 5 students must be included).

Corporates - The corporate challenge event has historically always been very popular as it is both an incredible way of raising money for charities and also provides corporate runners with an incredible experience (with access to a the pre race executive tent, regular pre-race communication and newsletters, team acknowledgement on the website and charity docket and a trophy for the member of the team raising the most funds). Teams of up to 15 or 25 can compete at a cost of Rs.275,000 and Rs.400,000 respectively.


Steve Goddard ran the Marathon in 2013, raising £863 for Reality Gives

We're really excited about being a part of this. But don't just take our word for it. Reflecting on his own experience Mumbai Marathon man and Reality Gives fundraiser, Steve Goddard says:


“it was an incredible experience, running for such a great cause that I really believe was very humbling. The people of Mumbai were their usual amazing selves and really supported the runners, kids running alongside and random people giving us biscuits and drinks etc., truly, truly great. It is a real buzz along the route, especially towards the last few km's where the number of people grow and there are events taking place. It was a rare chance to experience Mumbai in peace due to the really early start and 
almost run as the city awoke”.

This is a great chance to undertake an immense personal challenge, see a different side of Mumbai and raise vital funds to support the education of 381 students at Royal City School, Dharavi. 

If you’d like more information please don’t hesitate to contact us on Joseph@realitygives.org, we'd love to hear from you!