PaRRSA
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
S R E N WIN Success stories of individual feats and team accomplishments during the Swat Sports Festival 2014
2
I
WINNERS
TIME OUT Leading in the middle
Retelling the inspirational accounts from the Swat Sports Festival 2014 WINNERS… the title aptly interprets the outcomes that we have set in motion as a result of our successful roll out of the Swat Sports Festival 2014. Many individual contributions and a strong group effort have gone into making one of the most successful models of ‘sports for peace and development’ happen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Just a few months ago, we sat down to plan ways of celebrating the return of academic activities in the government-run primary schools in Swat, which had come to a standstill due to insurgency and the huge 2010 flood. It was then and there that the idea of organizing a sports festival for the affected school children captured our imagination. In the following weeks, this fabulous idea gained momentum as we prepped-up for its implementation. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Reconstruction Program, the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA) set out to reconstruct 117 fully damaged schools in the four districts of Malakand Division, including Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and Dir Upper at a total cost of USD 25 million.
Swat Sports Festival 2014
‘The idea of Swat Sports Festival 2014 was born in a meeting room. But it was the determination and contribution of my team in PaRRSA, our funding partner USAID, and the people of Swat, particularly the youth, that translated the budding concept into a resounding success. I can say it with confidence that in sporting our achievements, we are all WINNERS.’ Muhammad Tahir Orakzai DG PDMA-PaRRSA
This publication was made possible with support from the American people delivered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Contents and photographs included in the publication are developed by the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and should be credited in its name.
As I write these lines to present the success stories of the Swat Sports Festival 2014, my conviction about the importance and relevance of sports in terms of peace and development grows stronger. It is due to the active display of human virtues on the field that the people of Swat, particularly its youth, have demonstrated teamwork, cooperation, respect, participation and triumph in ways words can’t describe. Our idea of sports for development and peace is rooted in the recognition that all forms of sports possess unique attributes of bringing diverse individuals together to work toward a common goal - accomplishment through hard work. The Swat Sports Festival 2014 has promoted unparalleled human progress through competitive sports. This is due to all the students of the various schools who participated in different sporting events, our funding partner, USAID, and the people of Swat who have yet again proved to be the ambassadors of peace and development. What comes in the following pages is a testament of my belief that the youth of Swat are as progressive and talented as the school children in other regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Every win gave them a reason to celebrate. Every loss taught them a lesson about hard work. At the end of Swat Sports Festival 2014, each and every one is a winner!
I3
4
I
WINNERS
We did not lift the cup
but still we won The success story of Government Boys Middle School Peochar
Swat Sports Festival 2014
Some people mocked them when they went out in their white football kits for the first time to practice for the preliminary round of the football cup which was part of the Swat Sports Festival 2014. Not anymore though. How things have shaped up since then has not only changed opinions but attitudes as well. ‘Our parents and elders of the village did not take our participation in the sports festival seriously. They told us that we should be doing something productive during our time off from studies, like grazing the cattle or helping our parents with home chores’, recounts Alamgir Badshah, a 7th grade student of Government Boys Middle School Peochar in Swat. This is not the lone story of Alamgir. Several of his football team mates have similar accounts to tell. Peochar was once a hotbed of terrorists who had not only threatened the locals with dire consequences in case of resistance but also torched down every state-owned building including the only boys’ middle school in the area. Today, the valley has become a symbol of hope and progress, and the students of Government Boys Middle School Peochar are beckoning the renaissance. The 14-year-old Alamgir has lots of interesting things to share. ‘Our government has done a wonderful job with the Swat Sports Festival 2014 because we have been looking forward to such an occasion for a long time. Sure, there have been festivals and events in the past, but this was the only time when a sports event was organized for the students of the government-run schools in Swat’. They craved for such an opportunity and they have made the most of it with their talent and determination.
Peochar football team lines up on the match day
“
I told our competitors right at the beginning of the competition to not write us off. Between 19th and 27th of August, we just had to prove it to them. Apart from the trophies and certificates, we also take home a valuable lesson that sports can lead us toward peace through participation, understanding, tolerance and acceptance. Alamgir Badshah 7th Grade Student Government Boys Middle School Peochar
I5
6
I
WINNERS Although, his team fell one goal short of lifting the cup, the players have moved many miles ahead in terms of understanding the importance of teamwork and the role sports can play in their future development. That this happened despite the fact that the students did not have the luxury of their own football field or a regular playing schedule speaks of the immense talent and perseverance that they possess.
This is what the SIGHT of victory LOOKS like
The game is on the side of peace and development
The students and teachers of Government Middle School Peochar all praise PaRRSA and USAID for prioritizing the rebuilding of their school, which was reduced to rubble by militants who used the building as their hideout. Now the school boasts a leaner and bigger structure, and features a sports ground. The school has hired additional teachers, who were also there to cheer for their team. The runner-up football team representing the students of Peochar has not only made the school proud but everyone back at the village keeps asking them about their next big match. Swat Sports Festival 2014 has brought them together and the stereotypes seem to have given way to applauses. ‘You will have to wear white shirts and bring a Pakistani flag if you want to be there for us’, Alamgir tells his elder brother with a beaming expression.
That is how the ball of sports has started to roll for peace and development in Swat.
Swat Sports Festival 2014
We played to win and
we did just that
The success story of Government Boys Middle School Aligrama
I7
8
I
WINNERS
The town of Aligrama was celebrated for its archaeological landscape. With its legendary history, it now braces for a promising future. That is what the school children of Aligrama have affirmed during the Swat Sports Festival 2014. When he first heard about the cricket tournament to be played under the Swat Sports Festival 2014, Najeeb Ullah could hardly wait to lead his team on the field. ‘Cricket is an extremely popular sport in Swat and every child aspires to become a good batsman or bowler. Our school administration has always been very supportive of our participation and they encouraged us to take full part in the tournament’, said Najeeb, an 8th grade student at Government Boys Middle School Aligrama. Pakistan is a cricket-crazy nation and the sport has brought the country countless occasions to celebrate together. Certain players also have an aura of stardom to their names, and amongst the current lot Shahid Afridi stands out. ‘I wish I could bat like Afridi. He has won us many matches at crunch times and that is what I aspire to do when the going gets tough for my team’. No wonder Najeeb has ‘boom boom’ printed on his cricket kit. His confidence before the cricket tournament was a source of inspiration for his team mates as well as his school teachers. Muhammad Javed, the school’s health and physical education teacher is impressed with the performance of his students. ‘My job is to focus on the health of the students, because only a healthy body can sustain an active mind. Looking at their fitness level and the ability to take on pressure during tough situations, such aspects have given me several reasons to figure that my hard work is paying off’. Javed was also overwhelmed by the facilities provided during the sports festival.
Boom Boom - NAJEEB hitS one out of the ground
“
Bringing together such a big scale event within a short timeframe was a big feat for PaRRSA. We are also thankful to the people of USA for their continuous support in not just rebuilding our physical infrastructure but also in reviving our fading hopes. Muhammad Javed Health and Physical Education Teacher Government Boys Middle School Aligrama
Swat Sports Festival 2014 Although, they were beaten in their very first outing by a much stronger team that eventually stood on the victory stand, Najeeb vows to come back better and tougher next year. This notion alone reflects that for the school children of Aligrama, improving themselves through hard work is more important than winning or losing a cricket match. That is one of the most valuable lessons they could have learned at this age. Such is the power of sports within the context of peace and development.
TAKING ON A much stronger team till the last ball The administration of the school, while cheering for their students near the boundaries of the cricket ground, paid tribute to the role of PaRRSA and the USAID. Because of the dilapidated state of school building, they had to move to a makeshift place which had no electricity connection, insufficient equipment and no drinking water. USAID funded the rebuilding of the school and also ensured the provision of all the essential facilities at the school. At the end of the match, Javed, while patting the back of his students had a piece of advice that they could keep with them until they are back on the field again wearing their lime green cricket kits. ‘Let us not be disappointed boys. You did a great job out there. See how Najeeb hit the ball out of the ground. Kifayat was fantastic with his fast bowling. Our field catching was also impressive. Yes, we have to improve in certain areas, but today you have made yourselves and the people of Aligrama proud’.
They could not make it to the victory stand as the cricket champions. But they can stand tall and proud for what they have already achieved.
The opening batsman all set to face the challenge
I9
10
I
WINNERS
We made happen
what others doubted
The success story of Government Girls Middle School Barbandai
Swat Sports Festival 2014
Winners are changemakers. They transform challenges into opportunities, into stepping stones toward bigger goals. Accepting seemingly daunting odds, they set out to conquer the taboos and superstitions. As the girls’ badminton champion, Sabah Khan has made the change happen big time.
Sabah Khan lives in the small village of Barbandai, which is 20 kilometres from Swat. Even relatively near to the well-kept twin cities of Mingora and Saidu Sharif, the village is still miles away from the national mainstream development process. However, things are now evolving toward positive change with the complete overhaul of the only girls’ school in her area. Government Girls Middle School Barbandai has been reconstructed by PaRRSA with the financial assistance of USAID. ‘We consider ourselves the fortunate ones because there are still so many other children in Swat who do not have access to quality education services. We have an almost new school to go to every morning. The building, the furniture, the equipment, even our dreams of a better future have taken a new turn’, says Sabah, while preparing for her badminton finals against the student of Government Girls Middle School Saidu. Only three weeks earlier, when the announcement of an all-girls badminton competition during the Swat Sports Festival 2014 was made by PaRRSA, doubts surfaced around Sabah’s participation. Her neighbors taunted her for being enrolled in school just to play badminton. Even her cousins thought she was wasting time practising for the competition, when she should rather be focusing on her upcoming examinations.
the Headmistress is the biggest supporter of her team
“
Sabah Khan has represented Swat in several junior national level badminton competitions. In addition to her active participation, which has been a source of pride for my school and the people of Swat, she has also managed to win them. Sabah wants to continue her education to become a doctor and at the same time aspires to represent Pakistan at the international stage. Mrs. Jamila Shah School Headmistress Government Girls Middle School Barbandai
I 11
12
I
WINNERS ‘My dream is to become the national badminton champion of Pakistan. And I do not wish to stop there. Someday, I want to wear the Pakistan flag colors and compete for my country at the Olympics. I know that is never going to be easy. There are so many challenges and obstacles, both professional and social, that I have to overcome in doing so. If I haven’t lost heart and hope so far, it makes me believe I will not do so in the future either’.
the champ is flanked by the winning team
Sabah plays her way through to the final round
Mrs. Jamila, the headmistress of the school, is proud to have Sabah as one of her students. As for her talents and interests, Mrs. Jamila has extended considerable support and encouragement to Sabah to continue with her participation in badminton competitions within Swat and beyond. The headmistress now has another trophy to keep in the glass case behind her. The case is already gleaming with Sabah’s accomplishments. ‘In my opinion, it is a matter of perception versus reality. Some people think that sports and outdoor activities are a waste of time. It is a misplaced phenomenon that academic learning and future development remains confined to textbooks and examinations. That is true, but recreational sports as a supplementary education tool can groom children in ways that no classroom activity can’, she says.
Restating her hope to represent Pakistan in the Olympics someday, sABAH says, ‘I want to bring home the gold’.
Swat Sports Festival 2014
I 13
We gave our best to
lead the rest
The success story of Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu
14
I
WINNERS
It is often said that one has to strive to be the best in every field of life. Easier said than done, and the students of Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu learned it the tough way. Swat Sports Festival 2014 gave them the opportunity to perform their best. For the 14-year-old Ayub Khan, the final scorecard might not suggest the best of the outcomes for his school, but during the matches they played, exemplary spirit and competitiveness was on display. Deservedly then, the students of Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu bagged the prestigious ‘best sportsman spirit’ award at the Swat Sports Festival 2014, which was played under the slogan, ‘Play, Unite, Rebuild’. Ayub, a 7th grade student, is a relatively quiet boy who is not fond of socializing like the rest of the boys of his school. However, when he is on the cricket field, he is a diverse person. As the captain of his school’s cricket team, Ayub was charged up and made sure that his bowlers and fielders were ready and raring at all times. His scoring partnership with the line-up’s best batsman, Hameed Ullah, was also marked with high-fives and thumbs-ups. That is the spirit Ayub silently but surely carries with himself both on the field and away from it. The story of rebuilding the grounded structure of Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu is equally inspirational. The school remained without electricity and water for three years. School furniture and learning materials were in short supply. Under such circumstances, organizing sports activities and events for the school students was nothing more than an improbable thought.
Ayub Khan gets ready to take the field
“
With the financial assistance of USAID and, the project management and implementation by PaRRSA, the Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu has been brought back to its former edifice. Also, the facilities available to students within the school have undergone considerable upgrades. Sardarzeb Khan Administrator PaRRSA, Swat
Swat Sports Festival 2014 Ayub’s best friend, Salim Gul, is amongst the players who describes his friendship with Ayub in an outspoken and amusing manner. ‘Since the first grade, we are always in competition amongst ourselves. Our teachers, friends and relatives compare our school results with each other and they also make references to us when we are playing cricket. Ayub is a far better cricketer than me, but I have the lead in studies, particularly in mathematics and science. But we make the best team when we are together’.
Hameed Ullah PREPARES to club a long one Government Boys Middle School Barkalay Saidu was one of the schools extensively damaged during the militancy crisis in Swat. The school building remained out of order for more than three years, which resulted in serious disruption of academic activities in the area. While the school administration did its best to make temporary arrangements within the limited resources available, the students felt out of place due to their close association with their school building. ‘Swat Sports Festival 2014 gave us the best of opportunities to express ourselves. Undoubtedly, we are better as individuals and as a team to work harder toward our life goals. Sports gave us the platform to try and be the best we could be. We will use those experiences and moments to prove to everyone that we are the best’.
While the scoreboard displays Government Boys Middle School Charbagh as the best cricket team, all teams played according to the best of their abilities.
Salim Gul gets into the delivery stride
I 15
HIGHLIGHTS
Graphic illustration of the Swat Sports Festival 2014 Know why: The three games, football, cricket and badminton, were opted due to their popularity and prevalence among the students of the rehabilitated schools in Swat.
1. *GMS Aligrama 2. GMS Alamganj 3. GMS Barkalay Saidu 4. GMS Charbagh 5. GMS Kuz Shawar 6. GMS Peochar 7. GMS Nawagai 8. GMS Shawar
Cricket TOURNAMENT 1. *GMS Aligrama 2. GMS Alamganj 3. GMS Barkalay Saidu 4. GMS Charbagh 5. GMS Kuz Shawar 6. GMS Peochar 7. GMS Nawagai 8. GMS Shawar
Football CUP
Government Boys Middle School Charbagh
*Government BOYS Middle School
Government Boys Middle School Charbagh
*Government BOYS Middle School
Fun facts: Muhammad Rameez Khan, from Barikot Swat, represented Pakistan in table tennis at the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow.
Badminton COMPETITION 1. *GGMS Nigolai 2. GGMS Manyar 3. GGMS Sersenai 4. GGMS Barbandai 5. GGMS Tiligram 6. GGMS Saidu
Government Girls Middle School Barbandai
*Government Girls Middle School
Developed by: Provincial Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA) Content writing: Tariq Afridi (Collective Curiosity), Graphic desiging: Wasim Abbas (Ad.Sense) 2014 Š All stats and photographs are copyrights of PaRRSA and should not be used without written consent of the authorized officer.
Rahim Khan, the inventor of reverse flick in field hockey, is a former member of the world cup winning national team. He hails from Mingora, Swat. Anwar Ali, the young and budding left-hand fast bowler of Pakistan cricket team is basically from Swat. PaRRSA
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa