Little money and a million difficulties haven't stopped a bunch of youngsters from trying to change the lives of slum children around them. Here's why you should support the Oscar Foundation The adventures of Spanish striker David Villa and team will have come to an end in South Africa, but for 100-odd slum kids at Cuffe Parade, the journey has just begun. <table style="width: 139px; height: 174px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="139" align="right" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2010/jul/oscar.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr> <tr> <td> A teacher takes a class on the lone computer in a room at the chawl</td></tr></tbody></table>Armed with a football and little else, they are making light of their miserable circumstances and kicking their way to health, happiness and a better future, all courtesy Oscar Foundation, an informal NGO run by football enthusiasts who believe that sport is as much an educator as formal education. Football breaks vicious cycle For three years, Anil and Ashok Rathod, two of the men behind Oscar Foundation, have been helping school dropouts from Ambedkar Nagar in Cuffe Parade complete their education and learn life lessons through football. Says 21-year-old Anil, "When I was in school, a lot of my classmates dropped out to sell fish at Sassoon Dock to make a quick buck, which they would then spend on funding their wayward habits. After a point, their parents would give up and get them married, hoping to instill a sense of responsibility. The cycle continued with their children. That's when a few of us decided to use football as a way to lure them back to education." Today, classes in Science, Hindi and English are conducted in a tiny space on a mezzanine floor in the chawl. "We also teach them football three times a week, and the best among them are selected to play in the Oscar Foundation team that competes in city tournaments." Scoring with parents Why football? "I knew a bit of football, for one. It's inexpensive, and a great way to teach children virtues like discipline, teamwork and honesty. Plus, it's how we convince reluctant parents to send their kids back to school," he explains. Aided by contributions from other organisations like Pravah and Unlimited India, and at a meagre monthly charge of Rs 15, Rathod and Co. have also managed to obtain uniforms, shoes and a lone computer for the kids. "We show them YouTube videos on football techniques, and teach them basic computer skills." Despite recognition from the media (last year, they won the 'Real Heroes award' instituted by CNN IBN and Reliance Industries Ltd), funds and volunteers are hard to come by. "We have a lot of plans, but we need a larger space and more computers," he says. To make a goal, call Ashok Rathod on 9967218287 and Anil Rathod on 9773787521, or email <a href="mailto:oscarashok@gmail.com">oscarashok@gmail.com</a>

Loose(n) your purse strings

Little money and a million difficulties haven't stopped a bunch of youngsters from trying to change the lives of slum children around them. Here's why you should support the Oscar Foundation

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