In 2019, DeafKidz International and Slum Soccer forged a strong partnership. Creating a 3-year pilot initiative in Nagpur named DeafKidz Goal! generously funded by Comic Relief. The programme’s primary objective was to dismantle barriers, foster inclusivity, and secure equal opportunities for deaf youth.
The project adopted a holistic and inclusive strategy, training local deaf adults to become football coaches. These coaches, in turn, delivered life skills training sessions to deaf youth in their first language, Indian Sign Language, utilising football as a medium.
DeafKidz Goal Dissemination Event
To mark the end of this successful programme, Slum Soccer hosted a distinctly deaf-led dissemination event in Nagpur on 19th October 2023. The event highlighted the programme’s impact, gathering participants, community members, funders, and key stakeholders to celebrate their achievements. Deaf youth were actively involved in both the setup and the activities throughout the day.
The event itself stood as a testament to the project’s success, showcasing the integration of the deaf community. Notably, the number of interpreters has increased from zero at the project’s inception to four interpreters at the current event, marking a significant milestone for the inclusion of deaf children and young people in Nagpur.
Guests were welcomed to the event with an opening performance of the Indian National Anthem in Indian Sign Language. Slum Soccer’s CEO, Dr. Abhijeet Barse, opened the event, highlighting the organisation’s journey and how the DeafKidz Goal! programme developed to become an integral part of Slum Soccer’s work, and the impact of training deaf football coaches, subsequently imparting their knowledge to deaf youth.
Following Abhijeet’s address, the deaf youth leaders performed a dance, showcasing their talent, a testament to how their confidence has grown through being part of DeafKidz Goal! Programme.
Sajid Jamal, Program Manager of Slum Soccer then took to the stage to outline all the key achievements. The DeafKidz Goal! team made incredible over the past 4 years.
A key moment of the evening was hearing from DeafKidz Goal! youth leaders Vijaydas and Suman shared their experiences and the impact of the program. After the performances and presentations, Sajid outlined the next steps for DeafKidz Goal! and our call for further support to expand the program into new locations across India to reach more deaf youth.
The dissemination event was a wonderful opportunity to see the impact of the programme. To witness first-hand testimonies from the deaf youth truly demonstrated the positive change DeafKidz Goal! has made in Nagpur. Networking following the presentations sparked promising discussions regarding the potential expansion of the programme. We hope to secure future funding to train more deaf coaches and reach more deaf youth.
What’s next for DeafKidz Goal?
While the pilot is complete, the dedication of Slum Soccer and DeafKidz International persists. The success of this pilot in Nagpur has demonstrated the significant impact DeafKidz Goal! made on the lives of deaf youth, we are keen to continue and replicate this programme in new regions in India.
Thank you
Thank you to our amazing partner Slum Soccer, to the whole Deafkidz Goal! team for their pivotal role in realising this transformative project and their commitment to supporting deaf youth in Nagpur. A huge thank you also to Comic Relief for their generous funding.
To learn more about DeafKidz Goal! Check out our projects page
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