Wandoor, April 1: Dakshin Foundation & Andaman Nicobar Environment Team collaborated with local youth and the Wandoor Gram Panchayat to organize the IslandActive: football tournament and community library opening in Wandoor on March 29, 2025. This event was the culmination of Dakshin’s IslandActive sports and wellbeing initiative for children and youth in Wandoor, supported by the Direct Aid Programme of the Australian Consulate General, Chennai. As part of this initiative, over the last 8 months, Dakshin has facilitated regular after-school football coaching sessions and indoor sessions on environment, waste management, adolescent health, mental health and life skills, with regular participation of about 80 children and youth in Wandoor. A similar engagement has recently been kickstarted in Junglighat, with the involvement of around 70 children, primarily from the fishing community.
The event was kicked off in the morning by Mr. Adhir Das, the Pradhan of Wandoor and Bharat Sharma, Samiti member. Special Guests who graced the occasion included international level cyclists from the islands, Ms. Deborah Harold and Ms. N. Nikita, Mr. B.C Gain, Assistant Supervisor of Sports, Mr. Sanjay Meshack, Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Football Association and Mr. P.L. Roy, retired physical education teacher. The Wandoor panchayat ward members and parents of participants were active spectators cheering on the young players.
Overall, the event marked the coming together of the Wandoor community to build a vibrant culture of sports, health awareness, and team spirit and learning for children and young people. Alongside the tournament, a Community Library and Youth Resource Centre was inaugurated by Mr. B.C Gain, Assistant Supervisor of Sports and a story telling session for children was facilitated in the community library by Mr Chanchal Singa Roy (an educator from the islands).
Engaging stalls were put up by Dakshin’s Youth Ambassadors and researchers on solid waste management and island ecosystems and by Avians Club on identifying bird species of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The community library and youth resource centre, set up by Dakshin with the help of Wandoor Gram Panchayat, will be open for the children and youth of Wandoor. Apart from access to books on different themes, many skill building and knowledge generating sessions will be conducted for the youth and children.
The football tournament had participation of 11 teams across four categories - Under 14 Boys, Under 14 Girls, Under 17 Boys and Senior Men’s - with 6 teams from Wandoor and 5 invited teams including Kaushal Sporting Club, Department of Sports Future Football and the Dollygunj Senior Men's team. The series of matches displayed grit, determination and talent from all participating teams. Kaushal Sporting Club emerged as winners in the Under 14 Boys category, while the Under 14 Girls category witnessed a close competition between the Wandoor Girls team and Department of Sports Future Football, with the Department of Sports Future Football emerging winners in the penalty shootout. The Under 17 Boys finals was closely contested between Wandoor Ocean Boys and Department of Sports Future Football, with a much celebrated home win for Wandoor Ocean Boys. The Senior Men's match was between Wandoor United Brothers and Dollygunj FC, with Dollygunj FC taking home the trophy.
