Imagine standing amidst the vast fields of rural India, where the vibrant tapestry of rural life forms the backdrop of an inspiring revolution. Rural women, who have long been the backbone of their communities, toiling in the fields, managing households, and supporting their families, are breaking free from traditional roles and exploring the world of sport, significantly expanding their scope of opportunities and building their capacities.
As we celebrate International Day of Rural Women on 15th October, a time to honor our rural communities’ fierce, often unsung heroines, it’s crucial to throw some light on this transformative journey and acknowledge the pivotal role of sport in empowering women across rural India.
The winds of change: challenging stereotypes
Historically, women in rural India have been assigned roles centered around household chores and caregiving, often confined to the family farm or local community. Due to this, rural women have had to encounter a multitude of other challenges, such as limited access to education and vocational training, lack of healthcare facilities, inadequate infrastructure for clean water and sanitation, and restricted mobility due to societal norms and safety concerns. However, with changing times and increasing awareness of gender equality, rural women are defying these age-old stereotypes.
Over the last few years, sport has emerged as a powerful social and economic development tool, enabling rural women to shatter barriers and explore a world beyond their traditional confines. The concept of Sport for Development (S4D), uses sport to empower women, promote gender equality, and drive positive community change. In rural India, where women often face economic and social challenges, organizations like Pro Sport Development (PSD), Anantapur Sports Academy, Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti (MJAS), and Maitrayana, among others have shown incredible promise in helping rural women overcome these obstacles.
Education and leadership
In this empowering shift, PSD, an organization dedicated to building an ecosystem that leverages the power of sport to empower young individuals, assumes a central role in this scenario. PSD actively engages in partnerships with diverse organizations working in rural areas, equipping their facilitators and trainers with the skills to seamlessly incorporate sport-based approaches into their initiatives.
Employing sport as a catalyst for initiating dialogues on critical topics such as child marriage, gender inequality, healthcare, and sanitation has proven instrumental in enabling various organizations to connect with broader audiences and instigate a shift in mindsets through the universal language of sport.
One such noteworthy collaboration of PSD was with Girls Not Brides (GNB). GNB’s state networks in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, underwent training that enabled them to utilize sport as a catalyst for initiating dialogues on gender. Notably, many of the workshop attendees were women hailing from rural areas.
This confluence of rural women and sport-based activities has resulted in a ripple effect, inspiring these women to act as agents of change and inspire positive transformations through sport-based initiatives within their respective communities. Additionally, this approach provides a safe and empowering environment for women dealing with the pressures of child marriage, allowing them to develop valuable life skills and confidence as they actively engage in sport and related activities.
‘I was married off as a child and that has been the biggest source of worry in my life. Through this workshop, I have been able to experience freedom in its true form”
– Participant of a training conducted by PSD for GNB’s trainers and facilitators
PSD also joined forces with Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti (MJAS), an organization in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, to provide sport-based training for young women leaders from different areas within the district. At the heart of MJAS’ mission is the ‘Football for Freedom, Unity, and Solidarity Program’, a dynamic initiative that employs the unifying power of football to empower young girls in Ajmer.
Through the training received from PSD, participants have been equipped with skills to effectively facilitate sport-based activities. These newfound facilitation abilities have enabled young women in Ajmer to take on leadership roles within their communities, serving as an inspiration for other girls to engage in sports and overcome challenges like early marriage and restricted mobility.
Employment and community building
Sustained engagement in S4D programs not only exposes participants to valuable experiences but also offers training and mentorship, enabling rural women to acquire new skills and explore job opportunities they may not have been aware of otherwise. Many individuals who partake in S4D initiatives eventually transition into roles such as professional players, peer leaders, trainers, and coaches, thus fostering increased economic independence and self-sufficiency.
Anantapur Sport Academy (ASA), situated in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, has been involved in capacitating rural young women through its S4D initiative. Their program goes beyond merely providing sport-based coaching to participants – it encompasses comprehensive development sessions covering gender equality, health, hygiene, environmental conservation, and computer literacy among other important subjects. Several program participants, especially young women, have charted promising paths for their future by embracing roles as coaches and trainers. Impressively, some have even reached the pinnacle of their sports careers, proudly representing their country as professional players.
Additionally, the program also focuses on capacity building for associated stakeholders, including parents and coaches, equipping them with knowledge and insights on gender equality and women’s empowerment, thereby influencing attitudes on empowering women within the entire rural community.
A beacon of social inclusion and health
Beyond the opportunities, sport also serves as a catalyst for rural women to better their overall health. In areas where healthcare access is limited, sport acts as a lifeline. It’s not just about winning games, it’s about winning at life. Through sport, rural women maintain better health, lowering the risk of diseases and boosting their overall well-being.
In fact, these sporting endeavors provide not only a platform for maintaining a healthier lifestyle but also serve as an arena for understanding their own bodies and health, including menstruation. In addition to fostering a sense of community, unity, and shared purpose, participation in sport enables these women to develop a profound understanding of their own well-being, both physical and mental.
An example is Maitryana, actively involved in empowering rural women in different states across India. One of their programs, the Young People’s Initiative (YPI) program, focuses on netball and life skills for girls and young women. The YPI provides girls and young women with access to a safe space for sports through which they can also acquire knowledge on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, develop life skills, become confident, stand up for themselves and become leaders in their families and communities.
These initiatives not only help combat social stigmas and discrimination but also equip these women with the knowledge and confidence to manage their health effectively, including menstruation. The benefits of this healthy lifestyle are manifold, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives, while also serving as positive role models within their communities to prioritize their overall well-being, including the intricacies of their bodies and menstrual health.
Celebrating the limitless potential of rural women
International Rural Women’s Day stands more than a date on the calendar – it’s a call to celebrate the indomitable spirit of rural women worldwide. As we commemorate this day, let’s not only cheer but also magnify the transformation sport brings to the lives of rural women. After all, when women in rural areas are given the tools to flourish, the impact enriches entire societies, creating more inclusive and prosperous communities.
Their journey from fields to sport arenas showcases the limitless potential in rural communities. When they step onto the field, these women transcend being mere athletes – they become leaders, decision-makers, and champions shaping their own destinies.