“My new friends now think of me in connection with Play for Peace!” —Nitin Kumar, Play for Peace facilitator and participant
My initial response to Play for Peace games was not very enthusiastic. I was always shy and I was not comfortable speaking in front of other people. But so much has changed in the last year! My name is Nitin Kumar, I live in the Karol Bagh region of India, and I am currently in a Masters Program in Social Work. Karol Bagh is a marginalized area that is home to people known as Dalits, previously called Untouchables. Many of the youth here are socially excluded and many drop out of school. I am connected with the Youth Tech Hub Karol Bagh that provides opportunities to learn and grow without social discrimination. The Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI) runs four Youth Tech Hubs across Delhi. It was here that I began to learn Play for Peace activities and games.
Last year, Sir Agyat Shatru called me to say that there was a fellowship from the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) that involved spending one week in Norway and 3 ½ months in Nepal. I interviewed for the fellowship and was selected with three other youths.
This year in January I went to Norway, having never set foot outside India before! There were participants from over 20 countries. Because of the games I learned from Play for Peace, I was able to easily connect with the youths from other countries. I was delighted to learn that some of them, specifically from Zimbabwe and Zambia, also had experience in Play for Peace activities. They taught me the English version of SEPU where we introduce ourselves and tell our stories. During a morning session, I was called upon to do some “energizer” games in front of the group. That was the first time I did Play for Peace activities in front of others – and I was applauded by everyone!
After the youth camp, I went to Nepal on an exchange program. During my stay there I got a chance to attend the first module of Play for Peace, facilitated by Sam and Sarah Tower. I also worked with Neelam to prepare a workshop for school children on Gender Equality using Play for Peace activities. Initially it was hard for us, but after conducting one workshop, it became much easier and we started using more Play for Peace games. I know that because of Play for Peace, I was able to bond with others easily, even in other countries. These new friends now think of me in connection with Play for Peace!
Upon returning to India, I have now started doing Play for Peace activities in front of my house as well as with neighborhood children. And the most exciting news: One day after coming back from Nepal, I got a call from the Global Peace Foundation and they offered me job in their organization as volunteer coordinator! I am certain that the self-confidence I gained from Play for Peace has contributed to my new-found successes.
