CEQUIN India chairperson and Co-Founder interacted with the CSR Journal
In an exclusive interaction with the CSR journal, a journal that provides Corporate Social Responsibility updates, Ms. Sarah Abdullah, Chairperson and Co-founder of CEQUIN (Center for Equality and Inclusion) pointed out the roles in which sports practice can bring gender equality in the country.
Nelson Mandela once rightly quoted, “Sports can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down Racial Barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” In a time when there are political conspiracies in sports, the position of women is more difficult compared to that of men, especially in a country like India.
To shed light on how sports can bring about gender equality and provide the comfort of inclusion, Ms. Abdullah says sports play a vital role in achieving it. It leaves an impact on every player irrespective of their age, gender and proficiency. Sports serve the purpose of developing leadership, team efforts, focus, sincerity and the ability to overcome challenges.
Sarah stresses the fact that after a certain age, girls cannot be seen playing on the grounds or even at the nearest parks. This is because of a patriarchal society. The belief is that girls are not safe and mislead males just by wearing outfits that are appropriate to practice sports. However, because of the awareness spread by CEQUIN and the encouragement, the gap between boys and girls playing sports is filling.
Sports build up the morale and confidence in a person. It is very effective because it allows girls to connect and build a community of like ones and the myth of females being weak and not strong enough to play is changed when women make the nation proud by winning medals. Both in National and International games conducted, women have proved their strength time and again.
When looking back at the history and the participation of women in the sports industry, participation of women has increased. Over time, women players have been identified, recognized, and celebrated for their achievements. The organization mentor’s girls to play football. The change in the people is visible. The change brought is hard work of many years put together. The town and the communities in which the organization works have made girls withstand the pressure of marriage at a very young age and be career-driven. It has boosted the girls to work and build individuality.
Beginning anything and everything is difficult. The formation of groups or the communities in and for which they plan to talk about the rules and methods to play. The drawback in any sports that women play is that even while letting them practice a sport might seem easy, a lot is at stake for them to form a community and to talk, hence, learning and practicing could be difficult. But with proper guidance and support the change is felt and visible. Women these days know exactly what they want and work towards it. They are more focus-driven and are here to prove a point.
The Center for Equality and Inclusion is a Delhi-based NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) working towards the goal of empowering women. The mission of the organization is to empower the marginalized and excluded population. The NGO focuses on women from the said population. It was formulated in the year 2009 and since then works on areas such as violence against women, building leadership, provision of education, economics, and health.
Motivating, giving speeches and lectures, conducting awareness campaigns and drives about women’s empowerment and the need for them to fight for their rights alone won’t do the magic. It is not just the women and the girls that are to change their thoughts and beliefs. The change is to happen in society. The society where men are also a part of the change. A whole community has to change and leaving scope for similar and other communities to consider a change.
Published by Diwakar Kumar
Edited by: Aaradhana Singh
