One factor I am supremely happy with is how our program grew yearly, principally because of the laborious work of those people.  We coached extra gamers in additional communities, donating extra tools within the course of (thanks partially to the assist we acquired from Solar Life Monetary).  We received to learn the way hockey adjustments lives for therefore many individuals in Ladakh, in Shimla, in Delhi, and everywhere in the world.  Our volunteer coaches lives had been modified via the experiences that they had, the impression they made and the relationships they constructed.  Hockey in India actually is approaching a tipping level.  New group rinks are being constructed yearly, indoor services are being deliberate, tools importation/distribution corporations are being former and quite a few the gamers I’ve coached since 2009 have gotten the subsequent  era of hockey leaders in India: coaches, officers, referees, and many others.

However one factor that has been clear for a very long time: this system must adapt.  Issues had been and are going to vary.

Because the core group of myself, Alex and Antoine get into our superior years (none of us are 35 but), all of us must spend time specializing in our lives at house, which have usually been sacrificed for the good thing about The Hockey Basis and the communities we assist.

For myself, I used to be married simply over a yr in the past and am settling in a brand new house in a brand new metropolis (in a brand new nation).  Alex is about to have his first baby.  Antoine has simply moved in to a brand new house and has an toddler to maintain as nicely.  Briefly, all of us have private lives exterior of THF that require our consideration, and that is offering a fantastic alternative for The Hockey Basis to proceed to adapt because it grows.

Whereas we won’t have 10 coaches scattered round India like we did in January-February of 2016, we could have two nice representatives of THF on the bottom for a few month, with a handful of parents becoming a member of them throughout that point.  

• Alexis Daudelin (from Montreal), whom we met final season whereas within the Himalayas, will probably be returning to Ladakh for a 2nd time to educate
• Corey Adams (from Lengthy Island), whom was the hard-working editor that produced the “How Hockey Helps” video will probably be on the ice and behind the digital camera

We’ll share a bit extra about their plans and the group that will probably be becoming a member of them in a future publish (this one’s lengthy sufficient as it’s).  Antoine and I are (and will probably be) managing the India program from North America, collaborating and planning with our companions in India to make sure that Alexis and Corey are nicely taken care of and set as much as succeed.  They’ll after all donate hockey tools to in-need communities/packages, in addition to donate containers of books to totally different colleges round Ladakh, in collaboration with ILSC (once more, extra particulars in subsequent posts).

Past the real-life circumstances that require this adaptation on behalf of our devoted crew, it additionally permits us to develop a course of that allows The Hockey Basis to assist extra nations concurrently, if we are able to handle packages remotely.  This in flip can assist us hold prices low, which permits extra packages to be funded.  Fundraising is the hardest a part of what we do, and we’re making each effort to alleviate bills wherever potential.

In fact, nothing is free, and our programming nonetheless does have prices related to them with the intention to hold working.  

So, I am going to shut with a easy request to assist us make sure that Corey and Alexis have a easy journey. 

When you’re prepared and capable of donate throughout this season of giving, please head to our donation web page.  No quantity is simply too massive or small.  Please assist us proceed altering lives through hockey…one puck at a time.

Warmest regards, joyful holidays & joyful new yr!

Adam Sherlip

Govt Director & Founder