Recently, Oxfordshire County Council, London recognized Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Extension (DSKE) as an important contributing partner in Larkrise Primary School’s Achievement of the International School Award. DSKE has got a good academic performance record. It also stands out as a School that has encouraged and promoted horse riding, classical dance, choir singing, theatre, drawing, painting and now Netball.
A little over a year ago, Naz Foundation approached Deepalaya to conduct a leadership program and netball practice for children coming from deprived backgrounds. As part of their project ‘Goal’ they were required to identify children good at sports. Naz Foundation chose to partner with Deepalaya for the same. Netball is a non-contact sport similar to, and derived from, basketball. Ms. Deepali Sharma, an international netball player and a volunteer associated with Naz Foundation, has been teaching 19 girls, the techniques of the game twice a week at Deepalaya School. During the course of the training Nilofar Khan stood out for her confidence and passion for the game. She had a natural talent for the game and showed rapid progress surprising even the coach. In less than a year she progressed so well that she was chosen to play for Delhi in the under 19 category for the Nationals. Delhi subsequently won all the five matches against Chandigarh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Chattisgarh. Nilofar played no small part in all these matches. She won a gold medal and an individual trophy for helping her team to win. Now she is brimming with confidence and has decided to make Netball her career. Nilofar is training hard to get into the Indian team in the upcoming commonwealth games. Along with gruelling practice sessions she also pays special attention to her dietary requirements to maintain good fitness levels. Boiled eggs and a glass of milk are part of her regular diet.
Coming from a backward socio-economic background her parents were initially skeptical about encouraging her to take up the sport. Deepalaya would not give up easily on this budding star. Repeated requests from the school authorities and assurances of their support helped change her parents’ mind.
“It seemed tough but I never considered it impossible. One can understand a father’s inhibitions. He found himself alone when it came to the safety of his child…arriving in late hours because of her practice sessions. He was also not happy about her wearing short skirts”, said Shikha Pal, Principal at Deepalaya School Kalkaji. “When Deepalaya took the responsibility of her making it for Netball practice at different places in Delhi and dropping her back home safely, her father nodded silently with a smile”, she further adds.
Nilofar has only highlighted the truism that a deprived background is not a hindrance to attaining success. Granted that a person with such a background has to try harder but the effort is never wasted. Her parents’ contribution too played an important role as they decided not to hold the child back from the game, despite initial reservations. Similarly, Ms. Deepali Sharma spared no effort in personally supervising and encouraging Nilofar.
Deepalaya played the role of a facilitator by bringing the Naz Foundation and the child together. Nilofar’s experience is a heartening example of how a hidden talent can blossom even amidst deprived circumstances. Strong willpower coupled with determination and hard work can bring opportunities galore.
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