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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A Young Girl in Jordon Finds that there is more to Life than her Studies

By Batool Kreishan & Manar Shgerat

Haneen is a 15 year old student from Boshra High School for Girls in Irbid. Timid and reserved by nature, Haneen struggled to interact with other children in her school and community, fearing that they wouldn’t accept her for who she was. But with the exceptional guidance of her Right To Play Coach, Manar Shgerat, and the Goal program, Haneen’s personality has transformed. She has finally realized her potential as a liberator and leader in her home town.

Led by our Right To Play country staff, Goal was introduced at Boshra school almost a year ago. The program includes workshops focused on the empowerment of young teenage girls, and arms them with the necessary tools to prepare for the future. Haneen signed up for workshops such as “Be Empowered”, “Be Yourself”, “Be Healthy” and “Be Money Savvy,” assuming they would be like any other school course.


Since then, Haneen’s self image has soared; she is now confident, friendly and curious to learn and experience new things. Now Haneen speaks up in class and at home. She speaks to her peers, engages in different activities at her school and enjoys her new role as a girl scout.

“I was at my old school for 4 years, and with all that time there I only had one friend. On the other hand, I have been in Boshra School for over a year now and I already have 25 friends”. Haneen said

With regards to her communication problems, Haneen has made an active effort to interact with her friends, teachers and family. She now discusses matters with her parents and is no longer afraid of her teachers. She constantly asks questions so that she can learn as much as possible, and reach her full potential.

“Right To Play and Goal have helped me shed the light on my true self. I feel like am a new person who loves to play sports, communicate with others and learn about many things. I also learned that I could do so much.” Haneen said

Looking back at her progress, Haneen’s mum realizes how much her daughter has changed. “I am truly amazed. It is like I have a new member in the family. She is always telling us about her day and what she wants to learn and do in the future” Haneen’s mum says

Kunti's grown from strength to strength and now a national player of Netball!

Kunti’s Background
Kunti is in 9th Grade at Deepalaya School, Govindpuri, New Delhi. She has participated in the Goal programme for the past two years. “She was known to be very notorious in school. She was poor in studies and was always in the bad books with most of the teachers.

Her Experience
When asked about her experience with Goal, she gives a brilliant smile and says that it has been a great experience. She admits that after playing the junior nationals, her confidence level has increased. She says “I am looking forward to make my career in Netball”. She is inspired by one of the Goal coaches, Ms. Deepali, who represents India at the international level. She has now been selected to become a ‘Goal Champion’: to facilitate leadership sessions and teach netball to the new girls in the programme for which she underwent a ‘Train the Trainers’ course.

She trains the young girls at her school who now intently listens to her instructions as they get initiated to the game of Netball. During the sessions, Kunti displays great command on the group that she coaches and shares - “I am proud to be a national player of Netball. I can never thank the Goal team enough for this opportunity.

What she learnt
Kunti says “Through the programme I have learned how to operate computers and internet. I understand the importance of Health & Hygiene and learned about Sex & Sexuality.” She also recollects the fun that she had at the Goal picnics and training sessions with the Goal Team.
Her teachers have noticed significant changes in her after she enrolled in the programme, after she joined the Goal programme, her behaviour has improved greatly and so has her performance in academics. We are happy to see the change and know that she can do something in life” says Ms. Namrata, teacher and community coordinator, Deepalaya School, Govindpuri, New Delhi.


She has now been selected to become a ‘Goal Champion’: to facilitate leadership sessions and teach netball to the new girls in the programme in order to do this she underwent a ‘Train the Trainers’ course. She trains the young girls at her school who now intently listens to her instructions as they get initiated to the game of Netball. During the sessions, Kunti displays great command on the group that she coaches and shares - “I am proud to be a national player of Netball. I can never thank the Goal team enough for this opportunity.

Global News - Empowering girls

GNOC- The ‘women in sports festival’ begins. The Gambia national Olympic committee (GNOC) and the Gambia football association(GFA) organises the week of women in sports festival began on Saturday. This is the third year it has taken place and the main focus is to encourage and empower girls by mainstreaming them into the world of football.
Read more: http://allafrica.com/stories/201112191429.html

Programme director of the Girls Empowered is the Triad winner! Time Warner Cable’s National Super Connector Search will give Johnson a chance to star in a $100 million public service announcement to inspire kids to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Read more: http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/dec/19/wsmet04-milestones-for-dec-19-ar-1728538/

Girl Scouts Declares 2012 the Year of the Girl- Girl Scouts is the leading
authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage,
confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. With its 100th
anniversary coming up in April next year the CEO Anna Maria Chavez has named 2012 the year of the girl.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/08/4110303/girl-scouts-declares-2012-the.html#storylink=cpy

Running organization is helping young girls- Girls on the run was founded by Molly Baker in 1996 Barker she created this national non-profit organization by having expertise in counselling and teaching adolescent issues. It has grown from just 13 girls in its first chapter to chapters in more than 160 communities. Girls on the Run prepares girls from 8 to 13 for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living; it involves physical and mental issues, including running and lessons to improve the emotional and social aspects that our important for young girls to learn. Read more: http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/16730582/article-Running-organization-is-helping-young-girls-?instance=latest_articles

Gowri’s graduated with flying colours

Gowri Mudaliar a 16 year old girl from Mumbai is now a Goal Champion! She successfully graduated from the Goal in April this year. Gowri is from a family of five, her father is not presently working and her elder brother is the only provider for the entire family!

When Gowri first came to Goal she was shy and quiet although had lots of potential to show her energy and enthusiasm; with regular attendance to the Goal sessions she grew in confidence and interacted and laughed with her peers.

She grew a love for sport and discovered a lot of life skills, from this she became part of the “train for trainers” programme which has uncovered initiative and the ability to take responsibility which is the future will assist the family, especially her elder brother who has all financial responsibility for the whole family at the moment.


Train for Trainers” benefits the trainer as they feel more empowered by passing on the lessons they learnt onto other girls who are in similar situations. It is also less daunting for those girls who came to learn as they know the trainers were once at the same stage as them and can relate to the trainers more easily.

Gowri is in the 5th grade and will complete the state level exams in order to go to college. Gowri’s potential is increasing with achieving one of the top marks in her school, with her budding marks and love for maths and economics her aspirations of being a Chartered account are likely to come true!