Jharkhand-based NGO Yuwa wins Laureus Sport for Good honour

Yuwa, a Jharkhand-based NGO which works for girl empowerment, won the Laureus Sport for Good award, becoming the third Indian entry to bag the honour.

Radha Kumari, Neeta Kumari, Konika Kumari and Hema Kumari were all delighted when the organisation they represent, Yuwa, was declared the winner of the Laureus Sport for Good award

The four girls faced the world media with aplomb. And with absolute happiness.

Radha Kumari, Neeta Kumari, Konika Kumari and Hema Kumari were all delighted when the organisation they represent, Yuwa, was declared the winner of the Laureus Sport for Good award here on Sunday. It was only the third time the honour was coming to India.

The first time was in 2004 when the cricket teams of India and Pakistan were jointly declared the winner for resuming the bilateral series despite the political tension between the countries. Then 10 years later, Magic Bus won it for transforming the lives of the underprivileged children in the country.

Yuwa, an NGO started in Jharkhand by Americans Franz Gastler and Rose Thomson Gastler for empowering the girl child using football, has been chosen as the winner among hundreds of programmes around the world.

INDIA, INDIA!

Congratulations @YuwaFootball! Hugely deserved winners of the Laureus Sport for Good Award. Helping young women in Jharkhand choose their own future. @LaureusSport#Laureus19pic.twitter.com/r3OPEy6OxJ

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) February 17, 2019

 

The girls are having the time of their lives here. “It is great just being here,” said Radha. “We have also been to the United States and Spain.”

They have been able to play some football with some legends here as well, like the World-Cup winning Brazilian Cafu and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “They are technically good,” Wenger said.

“They showed football could be a team game though it is said to be a sport played by 11 selfish players.”