On October 16th, Ms. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister, Australia, visited a Cricket Clinic with Magic Bus

Children. This led to unprecedented Magic Bus mentions in the media, and a front-page coverage

in English Daily The Hindu (pic below)

Rehmim, 13, from Magic Bus’ South Delhi Programme

at Bhanwar Singh Camp, takes a run as Community

Youth Leader Seema cheers her.

Ms. Julia Gillard (clapping), Australia’s Prime

Minister, stopped as a Cricket Clinic with Magic Bus,

part of her 3-days State visit to India.

For more photos, visit

http://iplextra.indiatimes.com/photo/0eYu1VL4du2z

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Online coverage:

http://www.braidwoodtimes.com.au/story/401037/a

ustralia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/pm-

not-tempted-to-show-cricket-skill-20121016-

27nh0.html

http://www.braidwoodtimes.com.au/story/401037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.summitsun.com.au/story/401037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.coffscoastindependent.com.au/story/401037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.penrithstar.com.au/story/4

01037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/

story/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.brimbankweekly.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.wauchopegazette.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.crookwellgazette.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.wauchopegazette.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.crookwellgazette.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.theflindersnews.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.transcontinental.com.au/sto

ry/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au

/story/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=289420

http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/bre

aking/brisbane-times/australia-honours-

tendulkar/811779

http://www.devonporttimes.com.au/news/national/national/ge

neral/australia-honours-tendulkar/2663753.aspx

http://www.borderwatch.com.au/story/

401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/400924/poll-

tendulkar-honoured-with-order-of-australia/

http://www.merimbulanewsonline.com.a

u/story/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.melbourneweeklyportphillip.com.au/story/401037/

australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.humeweekly.com.au/story/

401037/australia-honours-

http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.myallcoastnota.com.au/stor

y/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.therural.com.au/story/4010

37/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.melbourneweeklybayside.com.au/story/401037/aus

tralia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.cobarage.com.au/story/401

037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.huntervalleynews.net.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.rhsgnews.com.au/story/401

037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.moynegazette.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.thenortherntimes.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.goondiwindiargus.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/metr

o/national/general/australia-honours-

tendulkar/2629282.aspx

http://www.tennantcreektimes.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/juli

a-gillard-gives-indian-superstar-sachin-

tendulkar-an-order-of-australia/story-

e6frf7jo-1226497270744

http://www.greatlakesadvocate.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/story

/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/401037/austral

ia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.hobsonsbayweekly.com.au/s

tory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/s

tory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.naracoorteherald.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.blayneychronicle.com.au/st

ory/401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.lakesmail.com.au/story/401

037/australia-honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.grenfellrecord.com.au/story/401037/australia-

honours-tendulkar/?cs=8

http://www.borderwatch.com.au/story/

401037/australia-honours-

tendulkar/?cs=12

Indian Express

THE GUARDIAN, UK

The Sports Campus

Accompanied by members of Australia’s indigenous cricket development squad, the Hon Ms Julia

Gillard MP attended a cricket clinic for disadvantaged children run by local NGO Magic Bus. Ms.

Gillard said, “Australia and India share a love of sport and cricket in particular and I am delighted

to join you for a cricket clinic with Magic Bus.>>>

Australia Nudges India Trade Beyond Coal

>>>

Wall Street Journal, London, Tom Wright

PM not tempted to show cricket skill

>>>

The Times

Ms Gillard made the announcement while visiting a cricket clinic run by the charity Magic Bus,

which mentors 250,000 young people from impoverished areas all over India. The scheme, started

by Englishman Matthew Spacie, who played rugby for India, uses sport as a platform to teach

children life skills, helping them to get a good education and stay healthy. It takes in children from

the age of eight and mentors them until they are 18, including putting them into programs to

prepare them for employment. Ms Gillard posed happily with the cheering children and watched

them play, but refused media entreaties to take up bat or ball herself.>>>

On a different pitch

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard cheers underprivileged children at a cricket camp in New

Delhi on Tuesday. She told them that Australia and India shared a love for sport, cricket in

particular, and that she was delighted to join them in the clinic, run by Cricket Australia and NGO

Magic Bus. >>>

Hindu, Delhi, 1

Australians protest decision to give Tendulkar Order of Australia award

Gillard, who made the announcement during a visit to a cricket clinic in New Delhi organised by

NGO Magic Bus, said the "special honour", known as AM, would be awarded by Australian Cabinet

Minister Simon Crean when he visits India soon. "I'm very pleased we're going to confer on Sachin

Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia, an AM," she told reporters. "This is a very special

honour, very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian

national."... >>>

India Today, Delhi

Guardian News

Ms Gillard made the announcement while visiting a cricket clinic run by the charity Magic Bus,

which mentors 250,000 young people from impoverished areas all over India. The scheme, started

by Englishman Matthew Spacie, who played rugby for India, uses sport as a platform to teach

children life skills, helping them to get a good education and stay healthy. It takes in children from

the age of eight and mentors them until they are 18, including putting them into programs to

prepare them for employment. Ms Gillard posed happily with the cheering children and watched

them play, but refused media entreaties to take up bat or ball herself.

WHYALLA News

Ms Gillard made the announcement while visiting a cricket clinic run by the charity Magic Bus,

which mentors 250,000 young people from impoverished areas all over India. The scheme, started

by Englishman Matthew Spacie, who played rugby for India, uses sport as a platform to teach

children life skills, helping them to get a good education and stay healthy. It takes in children from

the age of eight and mentors them until they are 18, including putting them into programs to

prepare them for employment. Ms Gillard posed happily with the cheering children and watched

them play, but refused media entreaties to take up bat or ball herself.

Hawkesbury Gazette

Ms Gillard made the announcement when visiting a cricket clinic for children from the slums run by

the Magic Bus Organisation, which mentors 250,000 children from impoverished areas. The

program was started 13 years ago by Matthew Spacie, an Englishman who played international

rugby for India and now heads the charity. The children are enrolled at eight years old and

mentored until they are 18, culminating in intense employment training. Sport, including cricket

and football, is used as a platform for helping them acquire and develop life skills and encouraging

them to get a good education and be healthy.

Gleninnes Examiner

Ms Gillard made the announcement while visiting a cricket clinic run by the charity Magic Bus,

which mentors 250,000 young people from impoverished areas all over India. The scheme, started

by Englishman Matthew Spacie, who played rugby for India, uses sport as a platform to teach

children life skills, helping them to get a good education and stay healthy. It takes in children from

the age of eight and mentors them until they are 18, including putting them into programs to

prepare them for employment. Ms Gillard posed happily with the cheering children and watched

them play, but refused media entreaties to take up bat or ball herself.

The Northern Daily Leader

Ms Gillard made the announcement when visiting a cricket clinic for children from the slums run by

the Magic Bus Organisation, which mentors 250,000 children from impoverished areas. The

program was started 13 years ago by Matthew Spacie, an Englishman who played international

rugby for India and now heads the charity. The children are enrolled at eight years old and

mentored until they are 18, culminating in intense employment training. Sport, including cricket

and football, is used as a platform for helping them acquire and develop life skills and encouraging

them to get a good education and be healthy.

India-Australia CEOs forum discusses ways to enhance trade

The CEOs Forum of India and Australia today discussed ways to increase trade and investment, and

agreed on taking steps for skill development. The CEOs also agreed on creating two 'investment

champions' from Austrade and FICCI to help major investors in each country to identify

opportunities and navigate government processes. These issues were discussed during the meeting

of India-Australia CEOs Forum. From Australia and India Lindsay Fox, Founder of the Linfox Group,

and Naveen Jindal, Chairman Jindal Steel & Power co-chaired the meeting. "The CEOs

recommended that the two countries will take up new initiatives to promote skills training. The

Co-Chairs took personal responsibility for further work on the transport sector," FICCI said in a

statement here.. They also agreed to look at ways to enhance mutual cooperation in infrastructure

development and to promote services trade. ... >>>

Economic Times, Delhi

India-Australia CEOs forum discusses ways to enhance trade-

Internet, zeenews.india.com

Gillard gets a sneak preview of chasing dreams in a slum

On Tuesday morning, a group of ten students looked expectantly at every car that passed by.

Gingerly holding flower bouquets, they took up posts alongside the men in khaki outside the gates

of a health centre in Jeevan Nagar of Southeast Delhi, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Australian

Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The political significance of her visit was lost on these children. They

cared little about international relations and nuclear policies. Their excitement had everything to

do with coming face to face with Australia’s premier citizen. Till a few years ago, entering a

college was a distant dream for these children from Sunlight Colony in Jeevan Nagar. But all that

changed five years ago, thanks to the helping hand extended by an NGO and the Australian

government. Like many in the crowd, which greeted Gillard on her arrival at the venue, 22-year-

old Bharti, a student of Maitreyi College, is the only person in her family to go to college. “Looking

at me, most parents now want to send their children to college,” she said.... >>>

Indian Express (IE), Delhi

Gillard announces grant for Delhi NGO

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Tuesday announced that her country will offer scholarships

worth Rs.16.50 lakh in an effort to help the students from a slum here pursue higher education in

India. Gillard, who is here on a three-day visit, made the announcement while launching an

internship programme of a Delhi-based NGO, Asha. Congratulating Asha’s initiative which works for

rehabilitation of slum dwellers in various colonies of the national capital, Gillard announced a

30,000 Australian dollars (Rs.16.50 lakh) contribution for Asha’s ‘higher education programme’ to

provide scholarships for college and university students.... >>>

Internet, First Post

Australia PM and team stage cricket clinic

Accompanied by members of her country's Indigenous Cricket Development Squad, Australia Prime

Minister Julia Gillard Tuesday attended a cricket clinic for the disadvantaged children run in Indian

capital by Cricket Australia (CA) and a local NGO. Gillard said: "Australia and India share a love of

sport and cricket in particular and I am delighted to join you for a cricket clinic with NGO Magic

Bus. Sport is an important foundation for life. "It teaches us self confidence and self-esteem and

promotes teamwork, cooperation and tolerance -- values which we can take off the sporting field

into our everyday lives."... >>>

Times Of India (TOI), Delhi

Australia's PM Julia Gillard to provide scholarships for college students

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced providing around Rs 16.5 lakh to an NGO to

provide scholarships for college students from underprivileged sections. Her announcement came

after she interacted with participants of the internship programme of the NGO Asha here. Gillard

congratulated Asha at the launch of its world-first Internship Programme to help students from

slums become job-ready. "In five short years Asha has helped over 700 students into university.

Australia's support will ensure the number of slum children attending university and college

continues to grow," said Founder and Director of Asha Dr Kiran Martin. ... >>>

Economic Times, Delhi

Australia announces music scholarship in Ravishankar's honour

Honouring India's sitar maestro Ravishankar, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today

announced a music scholarship at a prominent arts college under University of Melbourne. Gillard

made the announcement during Oz Fest at Purana Quila where Australian musicians Mark Atkins

and Gurrumul Yunupingu and Ravishankar's daughter Anoushka Shankar mesmerized the audience

with their performance against a breathtaking 3D projection. "I announce Ravishankar World Music

Scholarships in Victoria College under University of Melbourne. This scholarship signifies is that all

we have to do is to learn and share from each other," she said inaugurating the Oz fest.... >>>

Business Standard (BS), Delhi

Top honour for Sachin Tendulkar in Australia

In what came as a surprise to many here, visiting Australian prime minister Julia Gillard announced

that her government will confer on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar the 'Order of Australia', making the

39-year-old batsman only the fourth non-Australian cricketer ever to win the honour. One of the

non-Australian cricketers to have won the honour is Brian Lara. "This is a very special honour, very

rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national,'' said Gillard

after a session of cricket at a Delhi slum. Tendulkar will also be only the second India after former

attorney general Soli Sorabjee to get the honour. ... >>>

Times Of India (TOI), Delhi

Other news coverage for the month

London, August 24, 2012

India’s Dharavi slum, located in Mumbai, is one of the largest in Asia. Over one million people live within a 1.7km

square area.

You will find no houses here, no brick and mortar walls, just shacks; made by hand and held together by tarpaulin

and tin.

Poor sanitation is a constant threat to the people here with almost 1,500 people sharing a single toilet.

One of Dharvari’s inhabitants is Gulafsha; she lives here with her parents.

But at just 17 years of age, and despite these conditions, Gulafsha has achieved remarkable things.

The family’s journey to Dharavi is a touching one. Gulafsha’s parents both grew up with little access to education.

And in order to secure the opportunities they never had for their children, they uprooted their entire lives to move to

the bustling commercial capital.

Access to facilities, however, is not the only barrier to education or other development opportunities for young people

in India, particularly young women.

Cultural norms and social traditions limiting what young women can do often prove even harder to traverse than

poverty itself.

Like so many of the country’s young women, both Gulafsha’s sisters were married by the age of 15. On reaching

puberty, young women in India are expected to stay at home, unable to make choices about their own futures.

Gulafsha also faced the prospect of not being allowed to take part in what she loves most in life: football.

Talking about the situation in her home country, she says: “If you are a girl, parents often won’t let you out of your

house to play.”

It was however, a Laureus-supported football project that helped not only give Gulafsha access to football and play,

but also a path in life not bound by the often rigid traditions of her society.

Magic Bus, a strategic partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, works to combat gender inequality, as well

as giving children living in poverty vital opportunities whilst promoting education, health and livelihood. Since joining

the Laureus family, Academy Members such as Michael Johnson and Ian Botham have visited Magic Bus to see the

great work taking place.

But Gulafsha’s first experience of the project was hearing about her brother’s participation as a youth mentor. It

turned out to be a turning point for Gulafsha; she was 10 years old at the time.

Whilst at Magic Bus, her brother witnessed young women and young men playing football together. It made him think

about his younger sister, Gulafsha, and what she might be able to achieve on her own, as opposed to following in her

sisters’ footsteps toward marriage at a young age.

As Gulafsha puts it: “[My brother] had seen other girls play football, so he thought ‘why not my sister?’”

He made a plea to his parents to let Gulafsha get involved as well. And his doing so has proved life-changing for the

young football-lover, particularly as she was approaching the age at which marriage may have followed.

“I would be next [to marry at 16 like her sisters] but because of all I have done now my mother says ‘let her go and do

all that she can do.’

“[People in Dharavi] have no leaders, no role models and they fall into bad habits. But [Magic Bus] has raised my

confidence levels, it has turned me towards ‘good’ habits, not bad. If it hadn’t been for Magic Bus, I wonder whether I

might [be asking myself] ‘Hey, at this age, should I actually get married?’ But, no. Because of Magic Bus, instead I’m

here talking to you.”

And she is here, talking to Laureus in London, having been rewarded not just for her efforts at Magic Bus, but for her

own work setting up football classes on a Sunday morning for other young women, aged eight up to their mid-

twenties, in Mumbai.

“I am taking what I learn at Magic Bus, working toward gender equality, building confidence,” she says. “This building

confidence of women [encourages them to] go for education and a better future. Sport is the medium, and through it

we can teach many things.

“And if I teach 25 girls, each of them can teach another 25 and so on. Before it was really like girls couldn’t take part

in any outside activities, but now the world is changing.”

But what do the older students of hers think of taking lessons from a 17-year-old?

“It’s like they’re sisters,” she says. “For the younger ones I’m a big sister, for the older ones, a little sister.

“It’s like a family.”