Sajid Javid kicks off Indian football project
The Culture Secretary launched the Orient Girls Shiksha Kendra Kolkata Goalz programme as part of his trip to India.
Sajid Javid with some of the youngsters who have already benefited from the Kolkata Goalz programme.
Up to 200 girls are expected to join the programme and will join more than a thousand youngsters who have already taken part in the Premier League’s Kolkata Goalz programme over the last three years.
It works with young people in areas of high deprivation and offers them tri-weekly football training sessions, English lessons and the chance to participate in tournaments, athletics competitions and cultural events.
Sajid Javid said:
The Premier League do some brilliant work around the world in sport for development and it was great to see their Goalz project in action in Kolkata for the launch of their girls programme.
Not only is this encouraging sports participation but it is also helping young people in deprived communities find routes into employment.
The scheme is delivered with the Kolkata Police, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, All India Football Federation and nine Premier division football clubs based in Kolkata.
The Kolkata Goalz scheme is part of Premier Skills, which is an international collaboration between the Premier League and British Council that operates in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
It uses football to support community projects, get youngsters playing sport and develop local coaches and referees.
The Kolkata Goalz project has had a deep impact with young people finding employment with the Police force, playing in the Calcutta Football League, enrolling for English language classes at British Council Teaching Centre, pursuing higher studies through scholarships and registering for vocational training at the Police Kiran centres.
You can follow the Culture Secretary’s visit on Twitter via the #SajInIndia hashtag and through a dedicated DCMS Storify.
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Last updated 15 October 2014 + show all updates
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