Smash Barriers: Every Table is a Playground - India

Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal

Smash Barriers - Every Table is a Playground project seeks to harness table tennis for social development, focusing on community cohesion, inclusivity, educational empowerment, and gender equality. By establishing table tennis facilities in schools and community centers, the project aims to create inclusive environments, enhancing physical activity and community bonding. It also integrates a table tennis-based curriculum to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills, while challenging gender stereotypes.

Project support start: 01-06-2024

Status: Project implementation

Project location: Kapadwanj, Gujarat, India

The project aims to utilize table tennis as a tool for promoting community cohesion, inclusivity, and gender equality, and to empower youth through education and sports.

Contribution to the Global Goals

Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Individual Change
- School Children: Primary focus on children within Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal and from the nearby community, aiming to engage them in table tennis and related educational activities for personal development and empowerment.

Community Change
- Wider Community Members (Including youth groups): Including parents, youth groups and other community stakeholders, with an emphasis on promoting inclusivity, gender equality, and broader community engagement in the program's activities.
- Marginalized Groups: Special attention to integrating marginalized groups into mainstream activities, supporting their transition from traditional livelihoods to more stable and empowering engagements.

Institutional Change
- Educational Institutions (2 Schools): Collaboration with schools within Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal to integrate table tennis and its values into the educational curriculum and extracurricular activities, fostering a supportive environment for youth development.
- Local Authorities and Community Organizations: Partnership with local governing bodies and community-based organizations to establish and maintain table tennis facilities, ensuring the program's sustainability and alignment with community needs.

Individual
- Increased awareness and understanding of gender equality and social inclusion among participants.
- Improved physical health through regular participation in table tennis activities.
- Participants show improved self-esteem and leadership skills, particularly among marginalized groups.
- Ongoing physical fitness improvements, contributing to better overall health and well-being.
- Individuals from marginalized groups gain new opportunities in social arenas, consistent with SDG 10.2.
- Sustained engagement in physical activities contributes to long-term health and wellness, aligning with SDG 3.
Community
- Enhanced social interaction and cooperation among diverse community groups.
- Initial reduction in social barriers based on gender, age, or socioeconomic status.
- Stronger community bonds as evidenced by regular participation across different segments of the community.
- Noticeable improvement in community attitudes towards gender equality and inclusion.
- Community recognized as a model for social inclusion and health promotion through sports.
- Strong, measurable strides in achieving gender equality and reducing inequalities, supporting SDGs 5 and 10.
Institutional
- Schools and community centers begin to integrate inclusive sports programs into their regular activities.
- Initial partnerships formed with local organizations to support program delivery and resource sharing.
- Formal policies implemented in schools and community centers to ensure sustained support for inclusive sports programs.
- Increased collaboration with local health and educational authorities to expand program impact.
- Institutionalization of inclusive sports programs within local educational and community systems.
- Established framework for monitoring and replicating successful inclusive sports models in other regions.

300 sessions across three years ensuring regular coaching sessions and workshops throughout the project duration.
Diverse participation including school children, community youth, and parents, with a focus on marginalized groups.
500 - 200 children + 200 parents + 100 Youth and volunteers.
Engagement of community members and parents as volunteers in organizing and supporting events.
Increase the ratio of boys to girls to 1:1 by year 3 of the program.
Completion of table tennis setups in at schools and community centers within Kapadwanj, equipped with the necessary equipment and accessible to all community members.

Establish table tennis facilities in educational and community centers, involving local craftsmanship for table creation.
Host regular table tennis events and mixed-gender tournaments to promote social interaction and inclusivity.
Provide coaching sessions and workshops focusing on sportsmanship, physical fitness, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Craft a holistic learning experience around table tennis, embedding key lessons on gender inclusivity and equality into the program.