Just over 4 years ago, Vi-Ability was no more than an idea.
With a small amount of investment we started working with football clubs, using the motivational power of sport to engage hard to reach young people who were not in employment, education or training and commonly viewed as a nuisance to their local communities.
Through our bespoke training and education programs we successfully re-engaged these young people, supported them through various qualifications and training and supported them into employment or next step education.
Through participation in our bespoke BTEC qualification these same individuals set up and delivered a range of community activities at the football club to not only tackle social issues but increase the financial sustainability of the club.
From this small seed, our program has expanded rapidly across the UK and into Europe.
To date Vi-Ability has:
- Transformed 12 UK sports clubs that have all benefitted from increased revenue
- 84% of all participants go on to secure employment
- 94% of all participants complete their course and achieve at least 2 qualifications
- Vi-Ability has positively changed the lives of 100’s of participants
Vi-Ability can proudly say that it is one of the UK’s most successful social enterprises, having been awarded numerous awards and accolades for the direct social impact we have had on individual lives and communities.
We now want to replicate this model in India.
OUR WORK IN INDIA
Vi-Ability mission in India is the same as in the UK, to tackle social issues using sport to engage communities and individuals, to deliver education programs and to increase financial sustainability of key community clubs and organisations.
WHY is this needed? RURAL POVERTY
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SPORTS facilities, and opportunities to participate both recreationally and competitively are non-existent. This means individuals miss out on the OPPORTUNITY to develop physical skills which keep them HEALTHIER and stronger, mental skills such as PROBLEM SOLVING, DECISION MAKING and TEAM WORK. Not to mention the numerous health benefits both physical and psychological.
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70,000 INDIANS DIE a year from drowning because they don’t know how to swim, that is one person every 6 minutes. In southern Indian states the incidence of drowning are twice as high.
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TWO THIRDS of those living in RURAL areas can only afford 2 meals per day.
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80% of the population face an on-going issue of MALNUTRITION.
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INDIA has the highest incidence of TYPE 2 DIABETES in the world, the leading contributing factors are poor diet and lack of exercise. This is compounded by a lack of opportunities for SPORT PARTICIPATION and POOR EDUCATION about food and nutrition.
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SCHOOLS are privately run and do not receive government support or backing. Schools are often run down with INADEQUATE facilities, classrooms are poorly equipped, stifling hot and with no books, resources or equipment to AID LEARNING.
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Lessons are delivered by UNQUALIFIED teachers or teachers that do no have sufficient levels of SPOKEN ENGLISH to teach young people correctly, which means pupils do not have the opportunity to pursue a CAREER in a professional field.
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Pupils are often taught by ROTE learning with a heavy expectation to learn FACTS for exam papers rather than develop problem solving skills, analytical skills and LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.
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GIRLS are actively DISCOURAGED to pursue EDUCATION beyond compulsory standards or pursue a career.
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WOMEN are wholly reliant on men for financial support for their families and are given little or NO OPPORTUNITIES to set up their own local businesses to support their families.
Rural POVERTY is not just about financial wealth but a lack of OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR WORK TO DATEVI-ABILITY in partnership with SILO INDIA is working with local orphanages, schools and communities to eradicate rural poverty and improve the lives of individuals and communities.
India project 3 from Vi-Ability on Vimeo.
Our work commenced in August 2014. Through funding secured via GWIRVOL we have been able to send young volunteers from the UK (aged 18-25years) to support SILO INDIA deliver its aims and objectives.
Vi-Ability volunteers experience a new culture and develop their leadership skills, which supports them on their return to the UK to pursue a career and/or next step training and education.
At a local level our volunteer work is making a huge difference to the individuals and communities they work with.
Since August 2014 6 Vi-Ability volunteers have completed one month placements in India.
Between them they have delivered
600 hours of community activity,
within this 245 sport sessions,
220 spoken English classes,
with over 230 young people benefitting on a daily basis.
It has ENABLED Silo India to:
• Set up and sustain a community sports club offering 2 different sports with 67 members
• Set up and sustain a social enterprise of local farmers working to eradicate malnutrition
• Set up an international volunteer program to recruit individuals from all over the world
The volunteers impact has been immeasurable.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch our short videos on the impact the volunteers are having.
THE POTENTIAL
Providing international volunteers is the FIRST STEP in making lasting and sustainable changes to the rural communities and the individuals that we work with.
Our NEXT PHASE with your support is to replicate all Vi-Ability products and services across rural communities in southern India.
By doing so Vi-Ability WILL:
- INCREASE sports participation, infrastructure and opportunities.
- Create BETTER EDUCATION environments with SKILLED and qualified teachers, access to quality resources and opportunities to complete a range of non-curriculum based qualifications.
- Create BETTER EMPLOYMENT opportunities.
- Set up and support LOCAL social enterprises.
- DIRECTLY TACKLE other social issues such as nutrition, health, hygiene and sexual health awareness.
We need to raise £15,000 in 4 weeks to enable us to commence this work from January 2015.
Your contribution will directly support all in-country costs. We guarantee you every penny that you contribute will be used to increase the quality of these young peoples lives.
Be creative, run fundraising events, and get your community involved!
And of course we always welcome hands on help, please contact Jo Clay, our In-Country Operations Manager for more information on how you can support our work. [email protected]