India, 14th October 2024: Cricket is not just a sport in India, it is an emotion, passion & source of inspiration for millions. Growing up in communities where cricket has always been a unifying passion, most of us often watched matches on borrowed screens or heard commentaries on radios. Getting a glimpse of our favourite cricketing heroes or witnessing the excitement of a live match often feels like a distant dream for most of us. However, for five kids from Parikrma Humanity Foundation, it was a dream-come-true moment when they not only got a glimpse of their cricketing stars but were in the practice nets with players of Indian national cricket team.
In a meet & greet platform facilitated by SBI Life Insurance and BCCI, the five underprivileged kids from Parikrma Humanity Foundation found themselves getting wicketkeeping tips from Sanju Samson, facing the bowling attack of ace wicket taker Arshdeep Singh and batting alongside none other than the current Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav himself. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their dream-come-true moment, as the players indulged themselves with the kids in a no holds barred playtime in the practice nets, making for an unforgettable once in a lifetime encounter.
The objective behind the initiative by SBI Life Insurance was to enrich the lives of underprivileged children by not only supporting their education & holistic development but also inspiring them to dream big and achieve their aspirations for a brighter future. The time spent by the cricketing stars with kids of Parikrma Humanity foundation exemplifies how small gestures can create lasting memories and encourage young minds to dream big.
The five kids Deepika M, Mailari N, Ananya V, Nava Pranav and Paogouhao L, also got the opportunity to watch the India Vs Bangladesh international T20 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communication, and CSR at SBI Life, said, “We’re honoured to have played a small part in helping these children experience such a significant moment in their lives. At SBI Life we look at our partnership with BCCI beyond supporting the sport to inspire fans across the nation and liberate them to dream big and pursue those dreams. We are thankful of the cricketing legends like Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson, to take time out and wholeheartedly play ball with kids, the quality time spent will be etched as an inspirational memory for the kids, encouraging them to dream big. Through initiatives like these, SBI Life remains committed to supporting and empowering children, ensuring that their dreams are nurtured both inside and outside the classroom”.
Ms. Shukla Bose, Founder & CEO, Parikrma Humanity Foundation, said, “SBI Life has been a great support to Parikrma in running our school and college for underserved children in Bangalore. They have not only helped us financially but also found various opportunities for our children. We are very thankful to SBIL for inviting some of our children to be at the 20:20 cricket match in Delhi. We believe this exposure is a very important life skill lesson for our students. We hope this opportunity will give our children the exposure they lack. Who knows, they could well be one of the cricketers playing for our country in a few years’ time. Thanks for helping us in nation building.”
