Voddugandla is home to a population of 662 persons distributed across 149 households.

Mostly from the Other Backward Classes (Eediga), residents speak Telugu and practise Hinduism. A majority of households fall below the poverty line. Most of the families have their own land and are farmers.

Magic Bus began working in Voddugandla in 2011. Some of the challenges we faced while trying to mobilise the community to bring more children to our sessions were related to the restrictive attitude towards women and girls from participating in public life. Therefore, getting girls to the sessions were difficult. Even the turnout of women in parents’ meetings was a cause for concern.

At present, 119 children are a part of the Magic Bus programme in this area.

Alcoholism is a common problem in this community. This makes public spaces unsafe for children and women, restricting their access. Inadequate drainage and low awareness on sanitation are other problems that our programme has been addressing in this area.

Through awareness meetings on alcoholism and sanitation, parents’ tournaments that would motivate women to participate in activities in the public space, and regular Sport for Development sessions, we have been able to surmount some of the problems but there remains much to be done in this regard.