Date:10/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111058240200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

The day shines with sheer joy, fun and frolic

Staff Reporter

Sports day organised for underprivileged kids

— Photo: R.Ravindran

Gala time: Underprivileged children taking part in the sports day events organised by Concern India Foundation and Citibank at YMCA Nandanam in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Cheers and laughter filled the gym at YMCA Nandanam premises on Saturday, when 200 children from orphanages and organisations working for street children gathered for a sports day.

“We want to give these underprivileged children the chance to play, mingle and have a fun day once a year,” Neena Rajiv Govindan, branch manager of Concern India Foundation in Chennai, which organised the sports day for the sixth year, said.

Sponsored by Citibank, all the children received sportswear, take home gifts and food during the day, while the winners of the several games received a medal.

Divided into four age groups between 6 and 16 years old, the children played games such as a race while balancing books on their heads or while balancing a lemon on a spoon, hoopla and basket ball.

Madubala (12) of the street children’s organisation Kaingkarya, participated in the sports day in previous years too, and really looked forward to the event. “When we are in school we are not able to enjoy as much, because there are rules. Here we can play and have fun,” she said. The sports day was part of the third annual Citibank Global Community Day, during which more than 46,000 volunteers participate in over 1,000 events worldwide.

Another six events took place in Chennai . The events varied from sports days and other events for underprivileged or disabled children, to work in tsunami affected areas and coastal cleanings.

“It is not just the Citibank staff who participates, but also the managers, as well as their family and friends,” Citibank volunteer Amy said.

Concern India Foundation was founded as a non-profit public charitable trust in 1991, to help underprivileged children, women, tribal groups, disabled people and senior citizens to be independent.