Let's face it. Indian parents show a marked preference for bookworms over sporty, outdoorsy children. Even today, the average parent's biggest worries centre on schoolwork, test performance, assignments and exam dates. School is a competitive sport in itself, here in India. But for those parents who are bringing up children under the challenges of poverty, housing in high crime areas, and illiteracy, sports can create a pathway to not only keeping their children safe, but also invested in their futures.
Ashok Rathod, founder and executive director of the OSCAR Foundation used the lure of football to keep children from Ambedkar Nagar (Mumbai) out of the cycle of crime and drugs. Instead, he offered them a path where every goal, and every scraped knee made them more resilient, more determined, and more capable of winning, and even more capable of pushing themselves harder when they didn't.
Ashok, driven by the belief in "Education With A Kick," embarked on a remarkable journey that transcends the boundaries of the football field to empower children with life-changing skills, the right attitude, and unwavering belief systems. Ashok too, hailed from Ambedkar Nagar, and as a young man, he too found solace and purpose in football. His passion became the catalyst for change, leading him to establish the OSCAR Foundation in 2006 at the tender age of 18.
What started with one football and 18 children soon evolved into a nationwide movement rewriting destinies through the beautiful game. Today, OSCAR Foundation's programs extend beyond football, focusing on providing education, life skills, and values, creating a dynamic and interactive learning environment that encourages children to stay in school and away from negative influences.
It wasn't easy though. In the slums where parents traditionally view sports as a distraction from academics and work, convincing them to embrace the transformative power of football posed a significant hurdle. Ashok's visionary solution was to establish a rule that resonates with every child and their parents: "No school, no football." By tethering football to school attendance, Ashok not only secured higher enrollment but also minimised absenteeism, paving the way for an astounding 15,000 slum children to graduate from college in the last 13 years.
The OSCAR Foundation now operates in multiple states across India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka and Daman. Ashok Rathod's vision goes beyond borders, reaching rural villages and spearheading an excellence program. The foundation's inclusive initiatives boast a 33% participation rate of girls, with ambitions to elevate it to 50%. Notably, 150 children have had the opportunity to travel to international tournaments in Russia and Denmark, showcasing the foundation's commitment to broadening horizons.
To honour stories like OSCAR Foundation and Ashok, AU Small Finance Bank presents Badlaav Humse Hai Season 2, in association with Network18. Just like the first season, Season 2 celebrates 25 stories that showcase changemakers whose unsung work has helped carve out cultural identities for communities, lifted them out of poverty; created access where only barriers existed; shown communities how to work with nature to create true sustainability; changed hearts and minds about othered communities; changed the lives of many through economic, social or educational empowerment, and much, much more.
Watch Season 2 for Badlaav Humse Hai, as each story comes out. You can also catch up on all the wonderful stories from Season 1.
Moneycontrol Journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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