Through The Power Of Sports Changing Lives - Isha Outreach

52
Pragdeesh and his Friends
Palayur, TAMIL NADU
The fishing village of Palayur on the
East Coast Road of Chennai is today
the seedbed of many dreams. It is
home to young Pragdeesh and his friends.
Aged 10, Pragdeesh may come across
as a shy boy, but he has the wind in his
sails. In fact, he loves sailing and is getting
better at it with the passing of each day.
“Education must equip
students with something
more than just academics.”
Captain Nandkumar
Pragdeesh and his friends study at a
charitable institution founded by Captain
Nandkumar to provide free English
medium education to underprivileged
children. The school also provides Karate
and Yoga classes. An avid sailor, Captain
Nandkumar also felt that the children of
the fisher-folk community could gain a lot
by undergoing sailing lessons and so he
started sending batches of 10 children for
three-hour sailing lessons every Sunday
at Royal Madras Yacht Club. In learning to
handle the sails, Pragdeesh and his friends
are getting better prepared to handle the
challenges of living life along the sea too.
The opportunity to learn sailing is also
an inviting reason to go to school. The
success of the initiative is demonstrated
by Ennore Port Trust’s decision to take
charge of the children’s sailing lessons as
well as their travel and lunch costs.