“Cricket has transformed these girls. The way they interact with people and the confidence they have now is remarkable.” – Pawan Ghimire*
Why we care: Blind girls in Nepal experience discrimination, isolation, and violence due to their disability, leaving them with few opportunities or choices in life.
How we’re solving this: Sport offers blind girls something they have never had before: community, dignity, confidence, leadership skills, and a voice to claim equal rights.
Nepal’s Ministry of Education estimated that 0.1 percent of blind girls attend school and a fraction of those girls play sports. Women in Nepal are already viewed as second-class citizens, and blind girls and women are even further marginalized.
Blindness is traditionally viewed as a terminal condition and a curse, resulting in banishing of blind people from communities. Blind children are often hidden from sight and secluded to the home for the rest of their life without the opportunity to gain an education. Girls living with blindness are also extremely vulnerable to sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The Blind Cricket Association is changing harmful stereotypes for people living with disabilities. It organized the world’s first national blind women’s cricket team in 2007 and has gained increased momentum: There are now five regional cricket teams and 100 women and girl players. This year, the Blind Cricket Association will reach 120 girls and young women between the ages of 10 to 30 through cricket training and educational seminars on sexual violence.
The Blind Cricket Association will also organize advocacy campaigns in Kathmandu and hold media conferences to increase public awareness. The organization will also meet with community leaders, women human rights activists, and government officials to ensure governmental protections for women living with disabilities.
“My family, especially my sister told me to get involved in cricket. She inspired me to play. My neighbors and relatives also encouraged me. When I started playing cricket, people’s attitude towards me changed.” (Sunita Ghamire, participant on the women’s blind cricket team)
As a result of this project, blind girls in Nepal will:
- Gain leadership and teamwork skills
- Learn how to prevent and speak out against sexual violence
- Heal from psychosocial trauma
- Rise above and speak out against societal discrimination
- Demand equal rights for women as well as people living with disabilities