Priyal Keni
You can connect with Priyal on LinkedIn or Instagram and find out more about her work via playandshine.in and/or priyalkeni.com.
"To be a girl or woman today is..." to put yourself [first], make your voice heard, establish your own identity, and take up space in the society.
Tell us about yourself. What's your background? What inspired you to begin #LivingForChange?
I am a Chartered Accountant working in the consulting domain. I am also an international rifle shooter and I have been a member of the Indian shooting team for a period of 7 years (represented the country at top notch international competitions such as the World University Games and the World Championships).
Two years back, I founded my own social entrepreneurial venture known as the Play and Shine Foundation and set out to promote sports at a grassroots level. The education curriculum designed for underprivileged children as a part of the basic education program lacks a holistic approach, with a lack of emphasis on aspects such as skill development and engaging in sports. This motivated me to start the initiative, by which I can impart value sport education to children and encourage them to take up sports. Sports has the power to look beyond boundaries and discrimination, and to unite people to drive a positive social change in their local community.
Tell us more about your organization.
The Play and Shine Foundation works toward imparting value sport education to underprivileged children [in] villages, tribal communities, and other marginalized sections of the society. We use sports as a tool to contribute towards the individual and cognitive development of children. Empowering them at an early stage can potentially reshape [their] entire generation.
What have you been doing to spread the word and/or to help your cause so far?
We have set up a wide volunteer base with people coming together from almost 33 cities spread across 10 states. We have been collaborating with a lot of initiatives and other social organizations with whom we can align our objectives. Such collaborative partnerships help us to work with a more diverse set of stakeholders, have access to greater expertise, and have a wider geographical reach, which in turn results in creating a more profound social impact.
How and when will you judge success? What’s your end point?
I will acknowledge success when I am able to impactfully convert this social initiative I have started into a progressive pan-India movement through which we can ensure that every individual has the equal right and opportunity to play sport.
What are some of your future plans? Are you (individually or as an organization) working on anything else right now?
Going forward, I want to work towards taking my social entrepreneurial venture to greater heights. We are in the talks of establishing cross border collaborations so that I can come together with more like-minded people across the world and contribute towards the movement of using sports for social good. As a rifle shooter myself, I intend to get back to competing at an international level and win laurels for my country.
Complete this sentence: "I am #LivingForChange because..." I want to empower more individuals to lead better lives.
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