Grade 10 Online Fitness and Mental Health Initiative

Rohan and Akash, Grade 10, have started an online fitness initiative to help children stay in shape and take care of their mental health along with an opportunity to donate to COVID Relief.  Rohan is a national level squash player and Karnataka state champion in the under 17 category whilst Akash is the TISB cricket team captain.  Despite the ongoing academic pressure at school, fitness has always played a central role in their lives - since Grade 3, when both of them were selected to play in the Senior school cricket team.

The uncertainty and isolation we face as a result of the Corona crisis have certainly taken a toll on everyone’s mental health leading to stress, anger and a rise in domestic violence cases.  As the landscape for both education and sport drastically changed overnight with the nationwide lockdown, Rohan and Akash decided to start this initiative (www.covidfitclub.com) to raise morale and awareness on the positive effects of exercise on mental health.

By teaching High-Intensity Interval Training, cardio, strength and conditioning workouts to children aged 5 to 14 years, they have raised Rs1,00,000 in a span of 15 days.  Currently, they teach 10 sessions per week to a total of 25 students.  Moreover, they are beginning to introduce dance fitness and various sports challenges in response to the requests of fitness enthusiasts from all across India and the US.  Due to the high demand, several of Rohan and Akash’s classmates– Laila, Rishima, Aseem and Anya have also volunteered to take part in this worthy cause.  Several TISB students have signed up for these classes.  

Furthermore, all the money raised will go towards Mitti Cafe (http://www.mitticafe.org), an NGO where physically and mentally disabled workers are feeding migrant workers as a part of their COVID hunger campaign.

They have been featured on Page 2 of Times of India on 24 May, The New Indian Express and on the Whitefield Rising page, with further footage in local papers in the coming week.