Kidsquash Celebrates 5th Official Year with Friendly Matches

During this past weekend, 7 Kidsquash participants traveled to Brooks School in North Andover, MA to play a tournament with players from the Andovers Youth Squash Association, Myopia Hunt Club and Marblehead YMCA. Here are 2 beginner Kidsquash boys who played with heart.

Kidsquash Kids at 2011 Tournament

Most of the boys and girls participating in the event were beginners or intermediates who were relatively new to playing tournaments. They also got a taste of refereeing and marking. The kids were quick learners and were very cordial to one another.

This was the first time in Kidsquash’s 5 year history that participants from 4 different community squash programs came together in one venue to test their skills in a fun and friendly environment. Thanks again to the coaches, parents and volunteers of Andovers Youth Squash Association for organizing the event.

Presenting Khelshala to build Global Partnerships for Development

I recently made a presentation titled, “Serving the Poor: The Case of Khelshala in India,” at the 2011 Next Conference: “Promoting Global Partnership in Sport for Development,” held in Trinidad and Tobago. It was a privilege to give my presentation before the Chairperson of the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group who liaises with the United Nations Office for Sport and Development and Peace.

Since my return to the United States, I have had time to reflect upon key lessons learned from the conference. In the interest of being transparent and sharing ideas, I came away with, among other things, a greater understanding of sport for development practice and theory, a few contacts with representatives working in the sport for development sector and new ideas for potential partnerships and fundraising mechanisms for Khelshala.

On the whole, there are some very talented and motivated people working in this sector and I felt a renewed sense of purpose and the importance of striking a balance between working globally and locally with an eye for quality not quantity – especially since the nature of international development can make one jaded over time. Another presenter suggested to build on our collective wisdom and continue to take proactive steps individually. There is a lot to be said for practical idealism.

Celebrating World Squash Day with Master Coach and Junior Players

I feel fortunate to have been able to celebrate 2011 World Squash Day, first by facilitating a Kidsquash clinic for 33 kids from the Greater Boston community and then listening to tips from Mike Way, Head Squash Coach at Harvard University.

Coach Way conducting coach education for 2011 World Squash Day.

Coach Way’s coaching symposium – sponsored by Massachusetts Squash – attracted numerous high school coaches and parents all interested in developing their coaching practice and methodologies. His lecture and demonstrations included a critical, yet precise approach to the game.

I was glad to be able to celebrate squash with both coaches learning to teach the game as well juniors learning to play. This continuum of squash – as a lifetime sport – is one of its most appealing elements. Overall, it was a satisfying and educational day.

Development and Entrepreneurship: Creating Blended Value

Thanks to Iqbal Quadir, an old friend, colleague and mentor I attended the Legatum Convergence at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The conference brought together a diverse group of aspiring and established entrepreneurs all with an interest in developing countries.

As someone who quit a job with a former Fortune 500 company to follow one’s passion for squash and youth development, it was reassuring to hear the journey of entrepreneurs who were starting out or further along with their ventures. The examples of entrepreneurship put forth by the Legatum Convergence organizers were compelling, especially since they aimed to tackle critical, yet complex issues such as education and healthcare.

All the participants espoused a for profit, bottom-up approach to creating value for stakeholders and advocated that it is better for a man to learn how to fish, than to ask others for fish. Taking the discussion away from NGOs, charities and governments, it was a bold proposition for social business ventures to address development problems with commercial rigor. This was not meant to be at the expense of society, but rather at creating “blended value” for all.

 

Inspiring Change through Peaceful Individual Action

I recently attended a retreat in upstate New York at Blue Cliff Monastery for a “Day of Mindfulness,” where the keynote speaker was Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Open to Buddhists and non-Buddhists, it was very inspiring to listen to such a humble man who has devoted his life to social change.

Entrance to Meditation Hall at Blue Cliff Monastery.

His lecture drew from concepts of “applied ethics” where, among several issues, he challenged the audience to balance individual and collective responsibilities to ensure sustainable development. Much like Gandhi and others, he advocated that change begins with peaceful individual action.

Thich Nhat Hanh later guided us in a walking meditation followed by a vegetarian lunch and then one of his followers led a deep relaxation exercise. Overall, I came away rejuvenated and hopeful that each one of us can contribute to positive social change. Upwards and onwards, we go!

Instilling Service and Volunteerism in Youth

Earlier this month, I was one of 4 adult-chaperones for the freshmen orientation service trip to Blue Heron Organic Farm in Lincoln, MA. It was an opportunity for the freshmen to form friendships while performing service work.

Under the guidance of Ellery Kimball who runs the farm, the students’ tasks ranged from massaging the soil to weeding. The 3-hour trip ended with a reflection led by the senior orientation leaders. Everyone came away with a feeling of satisfaction knowing that they were making a small, but meaningful contribution.

More recently I participated in my alma mater’s efforts to promote community service, specifically, Bowdoin’s Common Good Day, an occasion where students, alumni and friends of the college perform volunteer work in association with local nonprofits across the United States.

The Bowdoin Club of Boston had 30 volunteers, including myself perform service work at Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit organization that assists disadvantaged children. It was good to see the recent Bowdoin graduates out in force giving up their weekend to make a difference.

Both my service experiences, the first guiding Concord Academy students and then as a volunteer with members of the Bowdoin community, made me confident knowing that the volunteer spirit is alive and well, particularly among youth.

Appreciating Volunteers Brings Satisfaction and Perspective

Having volunteered in multiple settings, it is very satisfying when one’s effort is appreciated by host organizations. Massachusetts Squash graciously rewarded volunteers from the 2011 Women’s World Junior Squash Championships with free tickets to watch the Squash Showdown, featuring 4 World Number 1 squash players.

The Squash Showdown took place at Symphony Hall in Boston, a fabulous setting for a unique squash event. The event organizers went all out by creating a welcoming atmosphere while the World Number 1s, particularly Ramy Ashour of Egypt, put on a splendid display of squash.

Reflecting upon this evening, I also gained some perspective after interacting with members of the squash community. As a lifetime sport, squash offers engaged individuals to – play, coach, manage, referee, and volunteer thereby providing a deeper appreciation and perspective of the benefits of sport.

Serving without a Racquet

It has been a summer of service. Not the kind that starts a squash rally. Early on, I was pleased to be one of five adult chaperones for 39 Concord Academy students, of whom a few were squash players to New Orleans’ Lower Ninth District. Meanwhile another group of CA students, among whom were varsity squash team members traveled to South Dakota on another Academy-driven service trip.

Lower Nine, a community-based nonprofit organization, that teaches volunteers home rebuilding were our primary liaisons in New Orleans. Overall, it was great to see the CA kids become energized by the mission and carry out their tasks with extra enthusiasm and concentrated curiosity. Here are some photos from the New Orleans trip.

Building on this momentum, I decided to turn my attention to doing some more community service, in my home state.  My aunt – who is a teacher with a Head Start program – and I volunteered twice a week in Lawrence, Massachusetts at Cor Unum, a meal center for the disadvantaged.

During our month of service, we served freshly cooked meals to people in need. Seeing the immediate impact of one’s actions was very gratifying. In addition, all the volunteers we meet were genuinely happy to be there and worked well as a team. I highly recommend the experience to others looking for a way to give back.

Serving with a squash racquet is fun, but serving without one can be just as fun and immensely rewarding too!

Volunteering at the 2011 Women’s World Juniors in Boston

In an effort to give back to the sport, I decided to volunteer at the 2011 Women’s World Junior Squash Championships  in Boston held at Harvard. The tournament has over 100 volunteers from the Boston area who are involved in a variety of roles ranging from team liaisons to ticketing.

I signed up to be an usher to help with crowd control, but have also had the opportunity to operate scoreboards as well as act as a chaperone for random screenings conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. It has been a welcome change to take a step back from coaching and be part of a global event to watch the top female juniors in the world compete for national and individual honors.

Moreover it is wonderful to see the Murr Center at Harvard transformed for this special occasion. I look forward to the rest of my volunteer experience and wish the organizers and officials continued success with the event!

The Case for Sport and Development Programs

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently held a workshop led by expert practitioners from the field of sport for development. It is encouraging to see a major donor agency making strides to better understand the sport for development landscape.

I hope that the heightened awareness of sport for development by funders will not only lead to more programs, but quality outcomes for the beneficiaries.  In the Youtube video above,  I was glad to hear that the critical role of coaches in shaping the effectiveness of these programs.