Adventure camp
Camp fires, abseiling, gorge walking and the great outdoors – the adventure camp we took some of our football boys to was a world away from their regular lives in Doddigunta slum community, Bangalore.
We took 21 of the boys who regularly attend our football coaching to the camp, which is set amidst forests and tea plantations near the hill station town of Ooty. Most of the boys live in Doddigunta, where there is alcoholism, high unemployment and a lack of positive male role models.
Charles Benedict, who heads up our youth work in Bangalore says, ‘These camps allowed the boys to move out of their regular community set-up and think big and expect great things in life. It helped them to learn about themselves and also about their friends.’
New challenges
One of the boys, Sachin, says, ‘When I went to do abseiling I was very scared but I somehow wanted to finish this and I did.’
 After abseiling came gorge walking, which involves scrambling uphill through a river. The boys balanced on boulders, slid into pools and scrambled up water falls. Charles says, ‘Gorge walking involves team work and it was great to see the boys help each other while cracking jokes and having fun.
‘We had a reflection time where we asked what the boys had learnt. We were amazed to got answers about co-operation, confidence, obedience, respect and how to work to benefit others.’
Vasu is 18. He says, ‘I enjoyed all the activities here. I understood that it is not possible for us to do things alone and we need to work in partnership and be responsible for the results.’
Changing attitudes
Some of the boys shared with the staff about the addictions they’re struggling with, such as alcoholism, smoking, pornography and petty thefts. Many of the boys also struggle with feelings of hopelessness and lack of self-esteem. ‘There was eagerness in their hearts to change, and this brought a lot of delight for us,’ Charles says.
Sachin says, ‘My fathers drinks every day and used to fight with my mother. So I wasn’t able to stay at home. I joined bad company and started stealing things from home, smoking and speaking filthy language. (At the camp) I learnt that I need to keep myself off bad company. I need to quite smoking and stop stealing.’
Ravi is one of our star football players. He has been playing for a company called BHEL who were runners up in the league this year. He says, ‘This camp had meant a lot to me. I learnt kayaking and got involved in the team challenges. I smoke and have a drinking problem. This camp has taught me I should quit that and I am very grateful.’
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