The game of soccer is restoring childhoods and helping to build a sense of community and peace in one the most conflict-ridden and under-developed districts of India reports Video Volunteers Community Correspondent, Kamei Mercy.

“Education and healthcare are essential,” says Ms. Mercy. “But there is something more about a game of football. Your playmates are your first idea of community. In getting the children to play sports, the Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights is doing a great job restoring their childhoods and fostering a sense of community among the future citizens of Manipur.”

The Chandel district of Manipur state in North East India was named one of the 250 most backward districts in India in 2006. Poverty, unemployment and malnourishment are rife. There are no proper healthcare facilities or schools. Since the 1990s, a civil strife among two resident tribes – the Nagas and the Kukis – has caused much bloodshed. Children are the most vulnerable.

Sports for peace is an initiative of the Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights. It was conceived as an effort to restore lost childhoods and to help those afflicted heal from the traumas of war. Every evening, children of various tribes who have been displaced by the war come together to play what has been called ‘that beautiful game’; football in India, soccer in the United States.

Like Ms. Mercy, who came of age when the conflict was at its bloodiest, most children come from families broken by the war. A witness to violence in her childhood, she has since been working towards building peace as an activist and journalist, producing a ”Video Volunteers” video to document this community-building endeavor.

“The mainstream media only reports on the violence in this region,” she says. “But for me, stories like  the children coming together from different tribes and playing together are not only more personal, but more important. It is not like we are all up in arms and at each other’s throats! Most of the people I know are working constructively towards restoring peace. As a Community Correspondent, it is my responsibility to give them and their good work a platform,” she adds.

Kamei Mercy is part of IndiaUnheard, a news feature service launched by international community media organization Video Volunteers. The IndiaUnheard feature aims to give a platform to the stories and concerns of marginalized communities across India. It has a special focus on conflict zones where young committed activists like Mercy are bringing to light stories of hopes and lives that have so far gone unheard.

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Excessive mining has led to the pollution of a key reservoir that supplies water to 55 percent of the population in the tropical Indian state of Goa, contends Video Volunteers Community Correspondent, Devidas Gaonkar. With eight fully-functioning mines in its periphery, the reservoir is particularly susceptible to contamination during the monsoons, as pollutant-laden floodwaters spill into rivers and make their way downstream towards the Salaulim Dam.

A resident of South Goa, Mr. Gaonkar has seen the waters of Salaulim Dam turn poisonous every monsoon. In response to what he has witnessed over the past six years, Mr. Gaonkar has produced a video documenting the deleterious effects of mining on water resources and community health. “Due to excessive iron and manganese ore content in the water, those who drink it may suffer from heart disease, mental illnesses, and digestive problems. Not many people are aware of this, and I hope that my video will open their eyes.”

With 800 mines in an area of under 4,000 square kilometers, mining is second only to tourism as Goa’s largest industry. The state’s lenient laws have also allowed illegal mines to flourish, causing excessive and previously undocumented damage to the environment and water supply.

Mining in India disproportionately affects the country’s Tribals, original inhabitants of South Asia who reside primarily in the hills and mountains. As a former journalist for a state-run newspaper and as a Tribal living in the area most affected by the mining practices, Mr. Gaonkar now chronicles abuses that had formerly been expunged from the mainstream press. As most media in Goa is controlled by the mining companies, who are the most powerful corporations in the state, Mr. Gaonkar’s articles on mining went unpublished. Now, as a member of IndiaUnheard, he addresses the issues of excessive mining which directly impact his life and community.

IndiaUnheard is a feature service of international media and human rights organization Video Volunteers. It aims to provide a platform for disadvantaged communities throughout the country to voice their concerns.

“Devidas was our very first Community Correspondent for IndiaUnheard,” says Stalin K, co-founder of Video Volunteers. “IndiaUnheard has an eye out for youth who not only have journalistic skills, but also a passion for change and the empowerment of their communities. We are proud to have Devidas on board.”

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