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Shoring up the underprivileged

Syed Shoaib | July 7, 2012

With goals to achieve, no hurdle seems to deter these kids reaching them

A yacht race is not a very spectacular sight. It in fact gets boring after some time. But that is not the case when you watch children at the sport, especially when the winds are rough. Arduous and unpredictable winds make the event very fascinating. Sometimes leaning precariously over the waters and at times slipping nimbly under the sail to move over to the other side of the boat to restore balance that these little ones do so energetically is a thrilling sight.

Sense of freedom and adventure they experience is evident in the joy on their faces. The best thing about all this though is that most of these children come from poor families they can’t even afford them the joy of riding a bicycle — yachting would have been only a distant dream for them.

Shivram (top pic), who studies in the Government High School in Monda Market of Secunderabad in the eighth class is bubbling with enthusiasm. The sense of achievement on his face one sees after manoeuvring his dingy indicates that a lot of pride has been restored in this boy who hails from an underprivileged family. And this newfound confidence will stand him in good stead all his life. “I have been coming here and practising regularly for the last two years and that’s what makes me so good,” he says.

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Another boy goes overboard and into the water in his excitement, only to quickly climb back onto his boat, while a third one is busy bailing out water from his with a jug. Further away, managing her boat all by herself is Juhi (pic above), a fifth class student of Delhi Public School. “I love yachting more than I like cycling,” she says with joy written all over her face. Sailor Suhim Sheikh, the founder president of Hyderabad Yacht Club is credited with this yeoman’s service. He is financially assisted in this endeavour by Naandi Foundation, which is the charity face of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Limited. Donated paintings are sold or auctioned and the proceeds also finance these events.

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