Prerna Schools Redefine Sports Day as a Platform for Gender Equality

Lucknow: Prerna Girls and Boys Schools, units of the Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), hosted their Annual Junior Sports Day, titled "Reaching for the Sky," on Saturday. The event transcended traditional athletics, serving as a powerful call for gender parity, self-confidence, and breaking the shackles of patriarchy.

Distinguished Guests Inspire Youth The festival was graced by trailblazing women, including Kumari Priya (mountaineer and Rani Lakshmibai Awardee), Uma Sharma (Sub-Inspector and boxing medalist), and Seema Sharma (Sub-Inspector, Intelligence). Chief Guest Kumari Priya addressed the parents directly, urging them to eliminate discrimination at home. "Meaningful change in society begins with treating sons and daughters as equals," she emphasized.

A Vision for an Egalitarian Society Dr. Urvashi Sahni, CEO of SHEF, delivered a profound message on the role of education in dismantling gender hierarchies. She noted that while girls must know their right to lead, boys must be taught sensitivity and justice. "Patriarchy limits the humanity of boys and wounds the women they love," Dr. Sahni remarked, advocating for a partnership-based upbringing rather than one of dominance.

Athletic Brilliance and Parent Participation The program featured a unique presentation of the Prerna Constitution by senior primary students. The field came alive with creative races like the Balancing Cone Race, Three-Legged Race, and the Saathi Haath Badhana Race. The highlight of the day included synchronized drills by students of Classes 1 to 3 and a special Saree Drill and Mothers’ Race, which saw enthusiastic participation from the community.

Principal Rakhi Panjwani concluded the event by noting that the theme was inspired by the quiet strength and struggles of the students, aiming to foster a spirit where every child, regardless of gender, feels empowered to conquer the horizon.