Oscar Foundation
Growing up in Cuffe Parade’s Ambedkar Nagar slum, Ashok Rathod had experienced first-hand how early marriage and dropping out of school to earn a livelihood marred many a future. To help the youth in his area to utilise their skills, positively, he began to train children in football (he was familiar with the sport, and it was inexpensive). Thus, OSCAR Foundation was born in 2006. The Foundation uses football to ensure that children and youth are taught positive values, life skills, a healthy lifestyle and to stay away from labour and drug abuse. They are told to compulsorily attend class if they wish to get trained. Some of their recent campaigns included a newspaper and magazine collection drive to raise funds for renewing sports equipment.u00a0On World Peace Day (September 21), they will organise a 5-a-side Ring Football Tournament for Under-16 youth at Colaba Woods, Cuffe Parade. “The objective of this programme is to bring communities and religions on the same platform, to play for peace,” he adds. They have plans to set up a community computer and education centre in Ambedkar Nagar, to be supported by volunteers. The foundation also conducts a year-long social football education programme to educate young women and men, who can then work with marginalised children around Mumbai. Some of their challenges include getting a ground for practice and a room to continue teaching sessions. “We use public playgrounds but these are occupied by cricket players. Funding is a hurdle too. It’s also tough to convince parents to send their small children away from home as they fear for their safety.”
Log on to: www.oscarfoundation.co
Call: 22150488