“I could never have imagined that I would run five kms at one stretch,” says Aishwarya Suryadevara, a Std. V student of Indus International School who attended a Striding Flamingos workshop. Striding Flamingos was started last year by the sisters Indu and Priya Vaidyanathan, with a hope to inculcate “fitness, mental strength and creativity” in these girls.
“During the programme the girls are encouraged to eat healthy, to do various physical activities and to spend time to discover themselves”, say the founders.
The children also do a group activity where they “give back to society”. One such was the “Soles for Souls” activity, where they brought shoes and sandals from home and distributed them to poor children who they found walking bare foot.
Apeksha Atal, a Std. IX student of Indus International School, says “this programme has made me a lot more confident and a much better person. I have learnt to run, to be disciplined and also feel the need to do something for others who are not as fortunate. This is learning for life which does not end in eight weeks.”
A typical Striding Flamingos workshop stretches over eight weeks, through which girls between the ages of eight and 14, do various activities where they learn about themselves, they build up their stamina and finally manage to complete a five km run. This programme really does wonders to their “stamina, confidence and self esteem”, to quote Aishwarya.
Divya Gudur a Std. VI student of International School of Hyderabad says, “We encounter various distractions during our runs, like looking at a particular bird or an interesting flower. This makes the running bit very interesting, and before we know it, we have covered the given distance. Its amazing that we are not tired after the run.”
In focus
Kovida Yellamanchi, her classmate adds, “Timing does not matter in these runs at all, it's only completing the run and enjoying the entire experience that is the point of focus. This is what makes even the laziest amongst us, wake up and make sure to be present every Saturday morning.”
During the programme the girls are encouraged to maintain a diary in which they write all about their physical activities and also their feelings towards various things. Through this the girls understand themselves and as they are given points for their behaviour and activities, they are encouraged to continue writing and sharing their feelings with themselves!!
Shaili Shukla, Std. V, from International School of Hyderabad feels that she has learnt positive thinking from this programme.
Striding Flamingos would like to work with the Physical Education teachers in schools so that the program will become a continuous one.
For more information one can log onto www.stridingflamingos.com or contact Indu Vaidyanathan at # 9985300078 or through mail at stridingflamingos@gmail.com
