Assistant Secretary of US, Department of State, for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Marie Royce on Saturday interacted with students, entrepreneurs and budding hockey players of the State during her maiden visit to Ranchi. The US diplomat also witnessed a hockey match, organised with the idea of encouraging cultural exchange through sports, at the Hatia Stadium.
“We at the US Department of State believe that the power of cultural exchange through sports is transformative. Our shared passion for sports transcends linguistic and socio-cultural differences and brings people together,” said Royce, adding that participation in sports also teaches leadership, teamwork and communication skills that help young people succeed in all areas of their lives.
The US Department of State’s flagship Sports Envoy Program funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in Washington D.C. brought a seven–member team to Ranchi from Middlebury Athletics College in Vermont, USA for a Women’s Leadership and Hockey camp to train 100 tribal girls selected across six districts of Jharkhand – Simdega, Gumla, Khunti, Ranchi, Lohardaga and Chaibasa. All the selected girls were mentored by Savitri Purti and Sumrai Tete.
The US Department of State used on field hockey skill development and leadership building to empower 13-18-year-old girls living in areas vulnerable to human trafficking and child marriage. The hockey trainings were imparted at SERSA stadium and the girls were housed at the Khelgaon Complex.
The US Consulate General Kolkata in collaboration with a New Delhi based NGO Shakti Vahini and other supporting institutions working for the protection of Child Rights hosted the one-of-a-kind women’s leadership and hockey camp match at the South-Eastern Railway Stadium, Hatia (SERSA stadium) on Saturday. Addressing the players, Royce said, “This is my first visit to Eastern India, and I am thrilled to be here in Ranchi for the final tournament of the women’s field hockey and leadership camp. I am also delighted to see our American collegiate athletes, who have come all the way from Middlebury College in Vermont to serve as coaches and citizen diplomats.”
Consul General, US Consulate, Kolkata Patti Hoffman and Director of American Centre Kolkata Monica Shie also visited Ranchi on Saturday and watched the hockey match. “Hockey has emerged as a great tool of empowering the tribal girls of Jharkhand. Our effort is to ensure that the girls get the necessary exposure and also get aware about the menace of human trafficking,” said Rishi Kant, founder member of Shakti Vahini.