The Goal Mumbai Netball League 2012

On Saturday 18 February the final matches of the Goal Mumbai Netball League were held at the YMCA Jhoola Maidan.

Naz Foundation, the national Implementing partner for Goal, organised the Netball League Tournament where matches were organized within the Goal sites. The 10 best players were selected to represent the school/community in the final round.

This tournament provided a wonderful opportunity for talented young Goal girls to showcase their skills in netball, and compete to win medals. This was the first time the girls had participated in a formal tournament complete with sport kits!

The team from Asha Sadan, who were cheered enthusiastically by their Superintendent and the crowd, won the match by 6 Goals. All participants received medals and certificates and the winning team received gold medals and the trophy - Goal Mumbai Netball Cup!

Spectacular extravaganza from uni girls at India’s ‘Femfest 2012’

Femfest 2012, held by Sathyabama University in Chennai, displayed woman power in all its glory.

Setting ‘Cancer Awareness’ as the theme of the event, the girl-only affair saw a series of cultural contests, creative enterprises and workshops catering to a strong crowd of over 1000 girls from all over India.

Ms Shubharani, a Professor at the University said:“We used this as an avenue to promote cancer awareness among young women; the girls visit the Cancer Institute weekly, spend time with the patients and understand the realities of life in order to support the cause,”

Volunteers dressed in lavender and dark peach shirts and stars including singer Chinmayi, VJ Paloma and super model Pradhayini Sarvothaman graced the fest as guests and judges. There were various events like Western and Folk dance, a talent show and a themed fashion rampwalk, all designed to expose student’s talents in an enjoyable manner. The workshops on fireless cooking, personality grooming and hair styling were inundated with girls during the two days, amid a lot of giggles and hoots. But the loudest cheers were reserved for Chinmayi’s concert where the vocalist was in her elements, even mingling with the girls and joining in the celebrations.

Third year student, Sangeetha Subramanian said:“I particularly enjoyed the fashion show and the unique displays during our talent contest. The crowd went frantic and urged us to conduct this next year as well!”

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Global News: 15 February

“We must empower women to create the future we want!” was the message that went out yesterday to the Unites Nations Member States by the Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro. She encouraged the UN to boost economic empowerment for women and warned that gender discrimination around the world was too widespread; she also encourage them to support women in helping them realize the global community’s common goals.

Asha-Rose highlighted the struggles faced by women in rural communities around the world and urged governments to economically empower women living in the countryside. She said:

“All too often, we find the worst poverty in the countryside. And women are too often the poorest of the poor. Rural women really need our attention,” she told the gathered delegates, noting that discrimination against rural women “hurts everyone.”

Asha-Rose said in her closing remarks:

“Too many countries still have discriminatory laws on the books. Laws that prevent women from inheriting property, laws that restrict women’s freedom, and laws that undermine women’s rights are all laws that must be repealed,”

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