Cricket Association of the Blind Nepal
Impact Report on Discrimination and Hate 2023/2024
Prepared by: Cricket Association of the Blind, Nepal
Date of reporting: 16th July, 2023-15th July, 2024
Introduction:
This report is being prepared to assess the impact of cricket amongst the persons with visual impairments in specific and other persons with disabilities in general in eliminating hate, criticism, bullying and discrimination by the people at home, school or society. Through this report, as we intend to incorporate impact only related to social inclusivity, gender equality and non-discrimination, some of the other impacts beyond the intended objectives may not have been included in this report.
Background to the report:
Around 90%of persons with disabilities in developing countries like Nepal, experience some sort of hate and discrimination from the community they were born, school they go to place they work. When this hate and discrimination cross its limit, the persons undergoing such behaviour, either receive anxiety, depression or commit suicide. The situation is more graving to athletes with visual impairments and disabilities who have to interact with general athletes, coaches and general public each day. Numbers of incidents are there, where persons with disabilities are criticize and discriminated in the field of play by the coaches, general friends or the community people, which ultimately hurts their inherent dignity, physical diversity and is somewhat public denial to acceptance of persons with disabilities are the part of human diversity and integral parts of the society with equal rights and dignity. Thus, CAB, Nepal has been using cricket as tool of fostering inclusion in the society by eliminating hate, criticism, and abuses and exploitation against persons with visual impairments in specific and other disabilities in general.
With an aim to eliminate hate, discrimination and criticism against persons with blindness and other disabilities and aware people from spelling out with derogative terminologies, CAB conducted several activities which are found to be impactful in achieving the mission intended.
The activities conducted in the year 2023-024 with their impacts are as follows;
Activity 1: Community awareness program on disability discrimination and inequality through the game of cricket.
1.1 Cricket tournaments.
On the auspicious occasion of the 32nd International Day of Persons with Disabilities, CAB conducted a cricket tournament at Kathmandu comprising teams from five Districts of the country, such as Bagmati, Sindhupalanchowk, Kaski, Myagdi and visually impaired women’s team. The objectives of the tournament conducted from 3rd December to 6th December, 2024 at Kathmandu was to exhibit the competency to play before the general public, media another sportsperson without disabilities. The girls’ team was made to compete with the boy’s team so as to measure the attitude of boys towards girls, how each genders respect each other physical identity. This tournament has been very helpful in changing common men’s perspective to view persons with disabilities, accept them as the players and foster inclusive environment in the society so that persons with and without disabilities share the common opportunities of the society without any discrimination on an equal basis to others. In between the competition, the social message to behave well by reducing hate and criticism, to the children with disabilities, giving opportunity, care and love to persons with disabilities was also announced to aware general public coming to watch the competition.
Similarly,
Cricket Association of the Blind, Nepal in local management of Banke Association of the Blind conducted its second cricket tournament between Rupendehi, Chitwan, Banke, Kanchanpur, Surkhet and Bardia at Kohalpur cricket ground at Banke District from 16th to 20th February, 2024. Including 16 girls with visual impairments, altogether 102 players had taken part in the competition. This tournament marks a historic record as this sort of big event of the visually impaired to any other disability sports competition had undertaken place in the far-western region of Nepal. Likewise, the event was also graced by the local representatives of the municipalities including the Deputy Mayor, ward chairperson, Principal of Community School, Commerce and industries etc. Dividing the total six teams into two groups, the matches were played on a league com knock -out basis in T20 format. The tournament which was inaugurated by Deputy-Mayor of Kohalpur Municipality Ms. Sarmila Subedi Paudel, while the ceremony was closed on 20th Feburary by Acting Head of the Municipality Mr. Lal Bahadur Rana. The trophy of the tournament was lifted up by the Kanchanpur team defeating the Bardia team by 80 runs in the final match. As this tournament was also to shortlist the potential players for the upcoming World Cup 2024 Pakistan, there had been great competition among the players to perform their level best and secure their position within the top 15 national squad and were equally happy to get this great opportunity to showcase their playing competency before the community. Along with the publication of event news on national and local media, the final match between Bardia team and Kanchanpur team was board casted live through Facebook page of Krishnasar FM which was viewed live by over 7000 people and documentary of the same event was also on-aired through YouTube channel as well.
Impact of the tournament:
– Cricket competitions Witnessed by over 1500 people with physical presence, 7000people via Facebook live and 35000 people watched the documentary on a YouTube.
-Boys and girls with players have better understanding on each other physical uniqueness.
-187 visually impaired boys’ and girls’ players demonstrated their skills to play before the general public, media and other general sports persons.
-The parents, teachers, general sport persons and the community people attending the competition now behave well to the visually impaired cricketers, call them with dignified names, praise their competency and parents feel proud to their children.
-The children of the winning teams were honoured at the school before the other general students during the morning pray session, which helped to foster better understanding of competency the visually impaired children. This helped to reduce the culture of discriminating, criticising, bullying and torturing visually impaired children at school by the general children. Their victory helped to transform their identity from mercy living creature to a dignified player.
-Presence of girls in each participating team had helped to reduce gender disparity, understand each other’s and enabled girls to play adopting all safety measures so as to keep themselves away from physical and sexual abuses in the name of play.
-The final match between Bardia team and Kanchanpur team was board casted live through the Facebook page of Krishnasar FM. This live video was watched by over 7000 people.
-Wide coverage was done by social media and national and online portals about the whole event., which helped to spread the competency of visually impaired players to the larger audience to change the common men’s perspective to view disability and the persons with disabilities It is believed by watching this cricket match through social media , the general public not only knew even persons with visual disabilities can play sport like cricket but also sensitized them to treat equally without any hate, criticism and discrimination on the basis of their disabilities. The documentary of blind cricket shared through the Facebook page of Krishnasar F.M the very next day of the tournament was watched by 35Kpeople and this also helped to foster better understanding of disability issue from a closer distance.
-The local cricket clubs have started to get annual grant from the local Government and the players are invited in different events conducted in the local palikas.
-The visually impaired players are equally honoured in local and national Governments for their achievements.
-No cases of sexual, physical abuses and exploitation against girls’ and boys’ cricketers have been reported to this Association.
Impact story-1: Cricket transforms the identity of a visually impaired boy.
Mr. Surendra Choudhary [name changed] a totally boy from Tharu village of Bardia, joined school at the age of 14 after he was discovered by a community social activist. Only after joining school, he knew that even a totally blind person like him who has no vision an all can read and write. Though his family were well-off but they didn’t send him to school thinking that there is no use of spending money for a person like him who have no future and can contribute nothing to the family in a long run. While his brother visited to private school but he had no any other business to do rather than to guard his house’s courtyard. That is why he had to wait till he was fifteen to go to school. Family and relative used to call him by the name of his disability as his parents do not bother to give him a name. After he joined school and got opportunity to play cricket while he was at the seventh grade and his team won the match the very next year because of his contribution , then only realized what he can do for his society. He was honoured by the school; media took interviews and the friends who used to bully him at the school then after started to call him as cricketer and general children also came to play with him.
- Demonstration of the game of cricket by the visually impaired children at the rural communities.
In the year 2023-024, CAB, Nepal conducted cricket demonstration in 13 locations of seven provinces of Nepal, so as to create awareness through the game of cricket, foster better understanding on disability and promote equal participation of persons with disabilities in all societal activities. In order to demonstrate the game of cricket by the visually impaired children, CAB, Nepal travelled to the highest altitude of 2260 meters of Sindhupalchowk District to Chadani-Dhodhara of Kanchanpur District lying at the lowest altitude of 360 meters from Sea level. CAB conducted a day cricket demonstration program at each 13 locations] Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Sunsari, Kaski, Gorkha, Rupendehi, Banke, Surkhet, Bardia and Kanchanpur] by the youths and children with visual disabilities. The demonstration was witnessed by The Sherpa and Gurungs of Sindhupalchowk, Thakali of Gorkha and Magar, Tharus, Madise, Dalits, Chettris and Brahmins of the other locations. It was decided to reach out to people with different communities as persons with disabilities might have different experience living in different communities. During the demonstration, community people, school children, Army, Police, local leaders, commuters, bus passengers, street hawkers, parents, friends and relatives witnessed the visually impaired children playing cricket. During the demonstration, the public were made to play cricket with the blind fold in their eyes so as to give them the live experience of being blind and how difficult for a person to live with total blindness throughout the life. Most of the people living in the selected communities were illiterate and had lesser understanding on disability issue. It was found that most of the people living in these Communities were either the women, children, elderly or persons with disabilities as most of the youths of this village have moved to big cities or aboard in search of employment. Due to the ignorance of the community people including their family over the blindness and other disabilities, children with disabilities were ill-treated, ignored, criticised over their existence bullied and spelled out with derogative terminologies. Hardly 2 to 3% children with disabilities have attended the schools, whereas the drop -out rate was also found to be alarming due to unwelcoming environment, criticism, discrimination and lack of peer support from the general children. Including in all 13 locations, 290 children with visual disabilities demonstrated their skills to play. At the end of the demonstration, the visually impaired players were asked to share the impact of cricket in their lives and what other skills they have, while the local spectators were asked to fill in the knowledge assessment form to trace out the change in their perception after watching the demonstration. The visually impaired players also sang and dance before the public to showcase their additional capabilities.
Impact:
-290 children with visual impairments demonstrated their skills to play cricket before the general public.
-It raised awareness about the abilities of visually impaired and other disability individuals, promoting inclusion and understanding within the community.
-Participants developed essential skills, such as teamwork, coordination, and communication, which are valuable in various aspects of life.
-Successfully participating in sports can boost self-esteem and confidence, helping.-It provides opportunities for socializing and building friendships, breaking down barriers between visually impaired individuals and their sighted peers.
-Successful demonstrations inspired other persons with disabilities in the community to live a healthy and active life by engaging in some creative works within and beyond the family.
-Such initiatives can foster a sense of community as people come together to support and participate in inclusive activities. Over time, it can help shift cultural perceptions about disability, emphasizing abilities rather than limitations.
-The local people expressed their commitments to treat their disabled family members equally, accept them as one of the integral parts of the family and send them to school. They opined to bring the newly explored children with disabilities to school or Organization providing services to persons with disabilities.
-The local community leader also committed to keep the record of all disability members of his ward and monitor family and community people attitude towards them.
-The demonstration of the cricket game in rural parts have increased awareness of the need for accessible facilities and programs so as to promote active and inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in all societal spheres including education and play.
-Participating in sports has reduced feelings of isolation and depression amongst the visually impaired youths and children, contributing to improved mental well-being.
Activity 2: Cricket competition between the visually impaired school children for awareness rising to foster culture of mutualism and inclusivity to sensitize home and school family.
Considering the fact that children with visual and other disabilities are frequently subjected to hate, criticism, discrimination even at the schools by other general students, and teachers, family members, CAB organized an inter-school cricket competition between the children with visual impairments from Namuna Machindra and Laboratory High school on1st July, 2024 at the premise of Laboratory Secondary school, Kathmandu. During the event, the parents, other general children, school maid, hostel warden and representatives of Sports Council were also invited to grace the competency of visually impaired children to play cricket like other sighted peers. The main objectives of this competition were to bring all the stakeholders at a venue, make them watch cricket of the blind and change their mind-set what they had for persons with blindness and other disabilities. The guests were also made to play cricket with blind fold in their eyes so as to give them the live experience on how difficult to live with blindness for even and play without seeing. In between the match, it was announced to give love and is to children with visual and other disabilities at home and school, explore their interest and give them opportunity, treat equally like other sighted children at home. It was also announced that hate, criticism and bullying is disrespect to the physical diversity and inherent dignity. Such activities are inhumane and come under the legal offences. Likewise, on 8th September, 2024, at the premise of Narayani High School, a similar cricket competition amongst the visually impaired boys and girls had been organized with a same objective as well. Since, this was the ever first cricket competition the children of both schools had played so far, the children and their parents were very happy to see their children playing cricket. During the competitions twenty-eight visually impaired children between the ages 11 to 16 of both the sexes from each school had participated.
Impact of the competition:
-Witnessed by over 300parents, teachers, hostel warden, community people and the general students.
-Parents, teachers and other stakeholders got aware with the hidden competency of visually impaired children to play cricket.
-The concerned authorities realized that if opportunity is being given, any visually impaired and other disability children can render excellent performance in any sectors Ina society.
-School management committed to create inclusive learning and playing environment for children with visual impairments to at the school.
-Teachers committed to stop use of derogative terminologies now onwards and aske other children to behave equally and respectfully and play together.
-Schools have appointed focal persons to look after the cases of sexual abuse, exploitation, bullying and criticism against children with visual impairments.
-Now, the children are found to be playing cricket with the general sighted children after the school, which has been a good model of inclusion
Activity 3: Training cricket coach on eliminating physical abuses, bullying and criticism against persons with disability
CAB conducted the training for trainers’ program from 30 Nov to 2nd Dec, 2023 amongst the 16 visually impaired female coaches and on4th to 7th June, 2024amongst the fifteen male coaches in cricket. Including in both the trainings, there were 31 participants representing all 13 Districts CAB has been working. The main objective of this training for trainers’ program was to prepare coaches as the champions to combat violence, exclusion, hate and discrimination along with basic skills to train cricket. During the training the trainers were taught on the things to be considered while teaching the visually impaired and other disability specific groups. The training also focused on grooming up this cricket coach of blind cricket as a leader who could fight against disability discrimination, convince stakeholders and advocate for the promotion of rights of persons with disabilities. The trainees were between the ages 15 to 33.
The main reason behind including visually impaired girls in the training was to enhance their cricket coaching capacity and encourage their long-term involvement in cricket even after their retirement as a player. Parallel to the cricket coaching, these girls can be mobilized as disability leaders to empower persons with blindness and other disabilities to fight for their rights, speak the wrong doing before the public to seek legal support. It is deemed that having female coaches will be creating enabling environment for girls with disabilities to share and discuss their private issues openly before the female coaches. CAB has taken this training as a milestone in the history of blind cricket, as this is the ever first time when this many visually impaired women were trained to be coaches of cricket. In the training facilitated by senior coaches Mr. Rijan Prazoo and Mr. Nahendra Niraula; the girls were updated on theoretical and practical knowledge on rules of play, understanding the psychological and physical aspects of the players and building up team spirit; legal provision against torture and inhumane behaviours, good and bad touch, places to access justice in local levels. Considering their visual disability, the participants were provided the training manual and other relevant documents in ink and braille.
With their successful participation in the training, both the male and female coaches are now able to;
-Interact amongst the participants /trainees effectively.
-Advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities to eliminate torture, physical and sexual exploitation.
-Interact with parents and school management to probe-in the matters of sexual abuses, inequality, discrimination and bullying against children and youths with disabilities.
-Help the victim to access to the justice.
-Identify probable places and persons of sexual and physical abuses on and off the field of play.
-Facilitate the sessions on SRHR, good and bad touch.
– Now each 13 project locations at least have one male and one female coach to facilitate cricket coaching along with disability right champions.
-Support CAB in technical aspects of the cricket development.
-Understand the physical and psychological aspects of the trainees.
Case story 2: Dilli’s strive for ending discrimination through the game of cricket
Ms. Dilli Sara Dhamala, 23, a low vision girl from remote part of Surkhet District joined cricket at the age of 18. In the period of four years of her engagement in cricket, she played two domestic tournaments and two international matches as well. Since, Ms. Dilli being a low vision girl has experienced the hardship, discrimination and under-estimation by the society to the visually impaired girls, it was there in her mind to break all these criticism, discrimination and hatred to persons with disabilities in her region. Being a cricketer, she has experienced the power of cricket in social transformation, she decided to use the platform of cricket coaching to community awareness, build the capacity of visually impaired persons to fight against social taboos and discrimination. Now, Ms. Dhamala, along with cricket coaching, she has been reaching out to the family and schools of visually impaired children interact with them, convince them to accept their disable childlike the other general child of their family. She portrays herself as an example of what name and fame she received from the cricket and what their child could do if opportunity is being given. She has even taken local judicial bodies to warn parents and community people to prevent from imposing discrimination, forced sterilization to the intellectually disabled girls, send school and create accessible environment so that any children can fully participate in family to societal activities. As an honour to her contribution in cricket and prevent discrimination, abuse and exploitation, she has recently been awarded with Jyoti K.C women cricket talent award 2023.
Activity 4- Sexual and reproductive health orientation training to girls with visual impairments:
Managing menstrual, sexual and reproductive health for girls with visual impairments have been a serious challenge as they cannot see TV or pictures to learn themselves, neither their parents nor teachers teach them at schools. The problem becomes more serious when these girls go outside like playing or for some other works and get menstruated. They are equally found at the risk of getting sexually abused in and off the field of play. Considering this fact of need of knowledge on menstrual, sexual and reproductive health to girls with visual impairments, CAB provided this orientation to over 102 girls with visual impairments of high reproductive ages 13 to 25 of Bardia, Surkhet, Gorkha and Sunsari. The 30/30 girls with visual impairments from Bardia and Surkhet were given this orientation training on 24th of May, 2023 so that these girls can make their active participation in the training without having any fear of menstruation and other potential abuses. Similarly, the 24 girls from Gorkha and 18 girls from Sunsari were given the similar orientation training on 1st June and 24th June respectively. This orientation training was facilitated by Ms. Samiksha Ganywali – the Women Committee Coordinator to this Association and Ms. SrijanaLama – the senior health worker at Teaching Hospital Kathmandu. During the orientation, the girls learnt the importance of managing reproductive and menstrual health, basic tricks and materials to be used to manage their monthly menstruation, stop pregnancy and keep oneself healthy all the time. Likewise, they also learnt the disadvantage of having early sexual relationship, early pregnancy and early abortion as well. Considering the fact, that girls with visual impairments at the greater risk of sexual abuses and exploitation, the facilitator also taught them to identify possible places and persons of abuses and how to ask for legal support at the time of emergency. As all the participants didn’t have their mobile, the girls were divided in a group and made to share the mobile to attend this semi-virtual program. During the event, the girls were also given safety materials like soap, masks, menstrual pads and sanitizers.
Impact of the activities:
Orienting girls with visual impairments on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) can have several significant impacts:
-Though the trainings on SRHR were provided to sixty visually impaired girls between 13to 25 but its impact has reached to over 500 girls with and without disabilities at home and school through the sharing of the lesson learnt by the visually impaired girls.-Increased knowledge about their bodies, rights, and health, empowering them to make informed decisions.
-Girls with visual impairments can now use menstrual pads properly without taking others help. This has reduced the cases of sexual diseases like UTI, gonorrhoea and lower abdominal pain.
-The girls now attend classes regularly during the menstruation contributing in effective performance within the classroom activities.
-The SRHR training to girls with visual impairments have led to better reproductive health outcomes by promoting habit of regular health check-ups and preventive measures.
-Both the boys and girls talk openly with regards to their sexual and reproductive health. They even share their problem to their school teachers about menstruation and any sort of physical and emotional abuses.
-SRHR training/orientation to girls with visual impairments have helped articulate their needs and desires regarding health and relationships, promoting self-advocacy.
-The participants have better knowledge about contraception, consent, and safe practices, enabling informed choices about their sexual health.
-There is a reduction of societal stigma surrounding disabilities and sexual health, promoting open discussions and acceptance. Unlike the previous trend, the young girls with visual disabilities refuse to stay at Chhupadi during menstruation. The chhoupadi is a culture in far-western Nepal to bar menstruating girls to enter home and made to spend night in a shed far away from home.
-SRHR training has provided critical information on recognizing and preventing sexual abuse, increasing their safety and awareness.
-The boys and girls with visual impairments have the knowledge on available health services, ensuring they can access necessary support and resources at the time of need.
-Helped to Foster a sense of community and support among girls with similar experiences, enhancing their social networks.
-Girls with visual impairments are enabled to tackle sexual and physical abuses through the enhanced confidence and awareness on sexual and physical abuses.
-There have been reduced cases of sexual and physical abuses, criticism and bullying at the schools of the selected Districts.
-Encourages the development of inclusive health services that cater to the specific needs of girls with disabilities.
-There has been increased Involvement of parents, teachers and communities in discussions about SRHR, fostering broader support and understanding.
Impact story 3: Cricket gives courage to fight against sexual and physical violence to Ms. Gyani Kathayat.
Ms. Gyani Kathayat [name changed], 17, is a totally blind girl who hails from remote village of Baitadi to Kailali District is studying at class 10 at one of the school of Karnali District. One day when she was alone at her hostel, her hostel warden came to her room and sat by her. He hugged her, touched her back and pretends as if he cares for her more than any other students in the hostel. In the beginning she felt very happy for his attention to her .The hostel warden often used to come to her room whenever she was alone and repeat the same thing doing something new and strange in his every visit. Though she suspected but she couldn’t tell to anybody due to fear of expelling out from the hostel as she has no any option to go. In early 2024, prior to the conduction of cricket training at Kanchanpur District, CAB oriented on sexual and physical violence, good and bad touch, and speaks out first for the justice. She shared the thing happening to her at the school by the hostel warden. After returning back to school, she complained the incident to the school principal as well. The hostel warden was called and warned to take legal action against him if he repeats the same thing again. After she dared to speak, other girls also started to speak against different cases of exploitation happening to them at the school. Then the school appointed a female teacher as a SRHR focal person to receive such complains. Now, there are no any cases of abuses at the school at all.
Activity 5: Media promotion
Cricket Association of the Blind, Nepal has given significant importance to media promotion for disability awareness as their many mists and myth associated with disabilities and media have the power to reach out to very common people living in a community. Considering the fact that there are still thousands of persons with disabilities who are being hidden by the families, ill-treated and live by enduring domestic violence now and then, CAB has adopted media promotion as one of its strategies whether it for the promotion of cricket of the blind or raise awareness in the community to eliminate hate, prejudice, bullying and discrimination against persons with blindness and other disabilities. We have tried our level best to highlight the success stories, plight of persons with visual disabilities in cricket by sharing on social media, by publishing articles, or by attending radio and television interviews.
Outcomes of the media promotion:
-Over 45 social, national, and online print and on-air media have covered the news of cricket and cricketers.
-Over 100000 people have been acquainted with the competency and potentiality of persons with visual and other disabilities through media information. –
-Media campaigns have increased public awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, fostering understanding and empathy.
-Positive representation of individuals with disabilities in media has challenge stereotypes and change negative perceptions, promoting a more inclusive society.
-Informative contents on media have helped to educate the public about disability rights, the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, and the importance of inclusion.
-Highlighting stories of successful persons with disabilities have provided role models and inspired others, demonstrating that disability does not define potential.
-Media have facilitated conversations around disability issues, encouraging communities to discuss and address discrimination openly.
-Increased visibility and advocacy in the media have pressured policymakers to create and enforce laws that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
-Media coverage has raised awareness about the need for accessible environments, pushing for changes in infrastructure and services at the schools to public infrastructures for educate, play and works.
-Media Campaigns have helped CAB to foster solidarity and support among sports Organizations of persons with disabilities to advocate for the holistic rights of persons with disabilities.
-Display of the competency of persons with disabilities and their access to sports have helped to combat myths and misinformation about disabilities, providing accurate information that can help reduce stigma.
-Media promotion has helped to change the perception of younger audiences including those in schools and in the community to foster a culture of acceptance and inclusivity from an early age.
Impact story 4: I knew my son from radio.
One day, Mr. Chhumbi Sherpa, a father of a visually impaired boy Mr. Karsang Sherpa was busy in household work listening to the news on radio. At the end of the news, he heard his son’s name Karsang announced. It was the news of blind cricket competition that happened at Kathmandu including his son’s team from Sindhupalanchowk. For the first time he couldn’t believe that the name announced by the radio is his son. The name of school was same and the name of the boy exactly matched with his son’s name but only thing he couldn’t understand is the blind cricket. The radio further said that his son’s team not only won the match but his son stood player of the match in the competition and received award from the chief guest of the event. It was of course unimaginable news for him because the son to whom he had always discarded, ignored and discriminated from other rest of his children has achieved something through the medium of cricket. He recalled those days, when he didn’t bother to send him to school, give him good food to eat, behaved well, spoke well and encouraged him to participate in family social gatherings, feast and festival. He felt happy when his son was collected by a blind Organization and took him to school at the city very far away from his home. He was happy not because his son is getting opportunity to study but getting rid of his responsibility upon Karsang. As soon the news ended, he called his wife and told what he heard about his son from the radio. While the couple were discussing some of the other neighbours came to their house and repeated the same news what they had heard on the radio. Mr. Chummi looked at his other children who had already left their study, gambling, boozing and giving panic to the whole family but the blind son who he has already ignored, has made him proud. He repented for his all wrong doing and promised never to repeat the same mistake again.