HYDERABAD: At 15, a juvenile offender. At 17, a state-level carrom champion. Two years at a govt-run children’s shelter in Hyderabad’s Chanchalguda gave young Aakash (all names changed) more than just a clean break in life and on the carrom board – it showed how resilience, mentorship and a quest for personal growth can lead to unexpected victories.
At the Chanchalguda home, Aakash was among 60 rescued and rehabilitated children between 13 and 18 to receive professional sports coaching.
Around 200 teenagers housed in five such homes in Hyderabad are being trained in archery, basketball, volleyball, handball, chess and carrom, among other sports. Several have gone on to compete in tournaments at the state and national levels.
Idea was to provide juvenile offenders platform to showcase abilities: Official
In 2022, Akaash had been caught stealing. Like most juveniles sucked into crime, he was clueless about where his life was headed. Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), a pioneering initiative involving state-run juvenile shelters in Hyderabad, helped him find his calling in carrom. “I used to live with my stepmother, who would abuse me every day. I fled home and got into crime. Also, am glad I got caught. Else, my life would never take such a turn,” Aakash told TOI.
He isn’t the only one. Until early 2023, 16-year-old Ahmed was a child labourer forced to toil in a Maharashtra town. After being rescued, the teenager discovered he had a talent for archery. A year later, he is a national-level archer representing Telangana in his age group.
“I have found my target in life in more ways than one,” said Ahmed, who finished 150th among 800 contestants at a recent archery championship in Gujarat.
Archery and basketball coaches training these children say many are so talented that it seems a travesty they weren’t discovered earlier. On average, they spend at least three hours daily honing their skills.
“These children, most of whom wouldn’t talk to anyone and were prone to getting into fights, are now disciplined, calmer and friendlier. While everyone is encouraged to play, we focus on building teams that can participate in tournaments. Selection is done through fitness tests and structured screening,” said Hema Latha, an archery coach .
Mirza Raza Ali Baig, deputy director of the department of correctional services in Telangana, said the idea was to provide juvenile offenders and rescued children a platform to showcase their abilities.
“Some children have picked up photography, coding and 3D printing. Since majority of them come from broken families, this helps them appreciate teamwork, build self-esteem, and fight depression, loneliness and anger,” said Arun Daniel Yellamaty, founder of the Youngistaan Foundation.
At the Chanchalguda home, Aakash was among 60 rescued and rehabilitated children between 13 and 18 to receive professional sports coaching.
Around 200 teenagers housed in five such homes in Hyderabad are being trained in archery, basketball, volleyball, handball, chess and carrom, among other sports. Several have gone on to compete in tournaments at the state and national levels.
Idea was to provide juvenile offenders platform to showcase abilities: Official
In 2022, Akaash had been caught stealing. Like most juveniles sucked into crime, he was clueless about where his life was headed. Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), a pioneering initiative involving state-run juvenile shelters in Hyderabad, helped him find his calling in carrom. “I used to live with my stepmother, who would abuse me every day. I fled home and got into crime. Also, am glad I got caught. Else, my life would never take such a turn,” Aakash told TOI.
He isn’t the only one. Until early 2023, 16-year-old Ahmed was a child labourer forced to toil in a Maharashtra town. After being rescued, the teenager discovered he had a talent for archery. A year later, he is a national-level archer representing Telangana in his age group.
“I have found my target in life in more ways than one,” said Ahmed, who finished 150th among 800 contestants at a recent archery championship in Gujarat.
Archery and basketball coaches training these children say many are so talented that it seems a travesty they weren’t discovered earlier. On average, they spend at least three hours daily honing their skills.
“These children, most of whom wouldn’t talk to anyone and were prone to getting into fights, are now disciplined, calmer and friendlier. While everyone is encouraged to play, we focus on building teams that can participate in tournaments. Selection is done through fitness tests and structured screening,” said Hema Latha, an archery coach .
Mirza Raza Ali Baig, deputy director of the department of correctional services in Telangana, said the idea was to provide juvenile offenders and rescued children a platform to showcase their abilities.
“Some children have picked up photography, coding and 3D printing. Since majority of them come from broken families, this helps them appreciate teamwork, build self-esteem, and fight depression, loneliness and anger,” said Arun Daniel Yellamaty, founder of the Youngistaan Foundation.
