Sahara Soccer and Sport
This project's parent organization is Sahara Centre for Residential Care and Rehabilitation
It operates in India
It uses Football (Soccer) and Athletics
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about Sahara Soccer and Sport
Sahara, an NGO working with substance users and PLHA, has been using football effectively as a form of therapy for the past 30 years. This has proved to be an effective therapeutic tool, which reinforces belief that people living with HIV can and do live normal lives. In Sahara soccer is life. Soccer pinpoints traits in individuals that enable the counselors to be more effective in their counseling. One can see the level of participation when it comes to group activity, individualism, effort or lack of it, decision making, thought processes, anger management, the ability to fight back or the lack of it.
Apart from this, the physical benefits are manifold. Speed, stamina, strength all increase which has a direct bearing on the mental health of the individual. Sahara tries to play matches with the general population in our battle against stigma and discrimination. This clearly states our philosophy of ‘Positive Living’ which is simply a healthy lifestyle.
Sahara has 2 football teams, Annual Football Tournaments, Winter Sports Days that include the entire organization, indoor games, and cricket. It amazes people how the two teams are so passionate about their game, committed to playing and winning and determined to put everything else aside.