Pathways Program for children graduating from Grades 10 & 12

Our successful “pathways program” has helped Hi5 children to continue their education beyond school and it has helped them to redefine and aspire for themselves beyond basketball. We have 44 Hi 5 children this year in 2020 who are graduating the 10th grade (awaiting board results) both from city municipal schools and the tribal school in vajreshwari. The Tribal children will be transferred to residential facilities for Junior college and hostel in Panvel just like the previous years. For our city children, we are pursuing admission in a nearby junior college so that they continue higher education and play basketball as a team.

Seventeen 12th grade children (awaiting board results) who are from tribal areas (previously from tribal school in vajreshwari) are aspiring to further their education to an undergraduate level. They are going to pursue bachelors degrees in science, commerce or arts and for them staying in the Hi 5 program has motivated them to higher education. They will be the first generation of students pursuing bachelor's degrees from their entire tribal hamlets. “Educating an impoverished child helps educate a whole generation” and for Hi 5 - this philosophy is close to the heart.

Upskilling of staff

June has been a very productive month for the coaches and social workers at Hi 5. Courses were identified based on the need and levels of each individual. Some of the online courses were Beginner and Advanced level English classes, rigorous google sheet courses which helps our coaches train in data validation and pivot tables. Courses like these help coaches and coordinators to keep complete track of children’s overall progress in a center right from academic grades to basketball progress and tournament analysis in the program. Also, courses like “Sports coaching and Psychology” are popular among coaches - a need of the hour to guide children towards success and life through sports.

Covid Financial relief

When the lockdown extended beyond 4 weeks, the parents of the children were in distress not able to feed their children. There were times when parents and children wandered on the streets just in search of food. Hi 5 took it up to feed the Hi 5 families in the best possible way. With the help of senior management staff at Hi5, processes and methods were laid out to help the families. A 4 step process was adopted (Link to covid page) and financial assistance was given to the families. The funds were disbursed directly into the parents bank account to 500+ families so as to keep the families afloat in getting groceries and essentials for the families. The covid relief financial relief will continue for families through December 2020

Children’s art work and coping with Covid

With the Covid lockdown announced in mid-March, for the athletic children in Hi 5 - life has not been easy. Most children in the Hi 5 program stay in the slums or in a very remote tribal village. The children live in poverty with extended families in a cramped space with many people around. Social distancing and using sanitizers were insisted upon by coaches on video calls. They were given physical fitness regiment and many children followed diligently. However, many were coping with art and it is evident how these young children’s perspectives of new lifestyle changes are apparent.