Our Work
Identifying Need: The Indira Kalyan Vihar Camp
The Indira Kalyan Vihar Camp is a densely populated community in Okhla Phase 1, New Delhi. It is a low-income community with approximately 3,800 families, and almost 60% of the residents are daily wage laborers. With most of the families living in congested and cramped living spaces, the community had no area that could be used for recreational or sporting activities. In November 2020, together with the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and the residents of the community, we decided to launch an initiative to fund and oversee the construction of a multi-functional outdoor sports court in the neighbourhood. For many of us growing up, our fondest memories have been bonding over sports with our playmates, all sweaty with smiles from ear to ear, and it is our mission to ensure that more children have opportunities to make these memories!
Fundraiser
Project Khel Kood, together with volunteers from the American Embassy School, launched an extensive fundraising campaign in November 2020 in order to cover the costs of the court construction. We succeeded in raising a total of 3,00,000 Rs, via donations and through 2,03,857 Rs from the online crowdfunding platform Milaap, which enabled us to help the community finish constructing the court. Thank you again to everyone who donated - even the smallest contribution has gone a long way in making dreams a reality for the children of this community!
Court Construction & Coaching
Prior to beginning the work, we first completed an extensive project proposal and cost analysis. We conducted a survey amongst construction workers in the area to calculate the costs of the project, which resulted in an estimation of 2.5 lakh. We submitted the project business plan to the prospective donors and collaborators, and we began launching our fundraising efforts while also laying the groundwork for construction. The court was built by the residents of the community, and our volunteers visited regularly to support and oversee its construction, including preliminary clean-up drives to clear the area before work started.
On the 26th of September 2021, the court was finally inaugurated with the residents of the community, including the children. The court was mainly designed for basketball, with hoops on both ends of the concrete area, but it can also be used as a multi-purpose space for other games like badminton and cricket.
For Khel Kood, this only marks the beginning of the project. Following the inauguration, we began visiting the community to assist in coaching the children and residents, together with a local coach we got on board using the help of our partners. The coach trains approximately 75 children between the ages of nine to sixteen, 4 times a week.
We also facilitated the donation of Khel Kood hoodies, t-shirts, and shoes to the children in the neighbourhood, in hopes of promoting a sense of unity.
Court Construction
Coaching
Khel Kood Inter-Team Tournament
On the 17th of April 2022, we hosted the first Khel Kood inter-team tournament at the Okhla sports court – the culmination of months of training and anticipation! Ten teams participated, and Shiv and the rest of the Khel Kood team spent each day leading up to it training with the children on the court.
The big day was attended by the Khel Kood team, plenty of local supporters, representatives from the American Embassy School, and members of the Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, who all helped to ensure it was a huge success. We also designed and purchased unique keepsake medals awarded to every participant and all the children were seen wearing their Khel Kood team shirts!
