Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s consistent efforts to harness the power of the beautiful game to strengthen the communities of its Member Associations (MAs) was further underlined when the “Prison Football, Rehabilitation Through Football” programme, which was launched in Nepal last year, successfully concluded in July 2023.
Supported by the AFC Dream Asia Foundation (ADAF), the programme was a three-way collaborative effort between the AFC, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the Shelter Ashraya Nepal (SAN), a non-governmental organisation, committed to creating sustainable change and empowering vulnerable communities in Nepal.
Upholding the ADAF’s overarching theme of “Football Cares”, the programme was designed to promote physical and mental well-being, while fostering a sense of community, and equipping the imprisoned population of Nepal with essential life skills to enable their reintegration into their communities as respectable citizens.
The initiative was introduced across four prisons in Nepal, three in Kathmandu and one in the district of Jhapa and included activities such as basic training in football skills, an inter-prison tournament, as well as counselling sessions.
The year-long capacity building programme sparked a positive ripple effect as it witnessed 112 prisoners being trained to become coaches, who in turn, launched the “Football for Hope” initiative, under which they took charge of training 50 prisoners each.
In the Jhapa District Jail particularly, the programme inspired the inmates to establish a youth league under which 11 clubs are currently registered, comprising 200 prisoners and 48 prison staff, helping the “Prison Football” initiative impact the lives of as many as 1160 beneficiaries.
Additionally, even those individuals who did not directly participate in the activities, also displayed visible improvement in terms of their mental health by virtue of being on the sidelines of an environment that promoted sportsmanship and teamwork.
“The ‘Prison Football’ Project exemplifies the transformative power of football in promoting rehabilitation and fostering hope for a better future. We commend Shelter Nepal and all stakeholders for their dedication.
“This project serves as a guiding light for the sports community, advocating for the use of sports for the betterment of our society,” said Dawa Lama, ANFA Vice President and AFC Social Responsibility Committee Member.
Echoing his sentiments, Khusbu Oli, President of the Shelter Ashraya Nepal said: “Contributing to the ‘Prison Football’ Project has been an immensely rewarding experience for Shelter Nepal. Witnessing the positive impact of football on the lives of inmates has been truly inspiring. The project has not only nurtured physical and mental well-being but also instilled hope and ambition among the prisoners.
“We are grateful for the unwavering support of our partners, volunteers, and donors who made this initiative a resounding success. We are committed to continuing this transformative journey, creating a lasting legacy of positive change within the prison community and society at large.”
