Childrens Charity, India
OSCAR International is a UK registered charity working closely with our partner in India, The OSCAR Foundation.
OSCAR uses football to instil the value of education and empower underprivileged children with life skills to take responsibility for the development of their community. Ashok Rathod, co-founded OSCAR in 2006 aged 18. Born and brought up in the Ambedkar Nagar slum in Mumbai, he had a difficult life but was fortunate his parents sent him to school. An education gave Ashok the chance to create a better life, whilst many of his friends fell into crime, addiction and early marriage. Ashok was determined to do something to stop the destructive poverty cycle. He set up OSCAR with 18 school drop-outs, teaching them football and patiently waiting for his moment to introduce the concept of going to school. Today OSCAR engages over 3,000 girls and boys.
In keeping with the core values and ethos in India, OSCAR International runs an energetic fundraising campaign, delivers education and life skills programmes, organises overseas education and football tours and inspires fundraising activities.
Delivering life changing opportunities and access to education in India and overseas significantly impacts a child’s life, that of their family and wider community. Education and football teach young people to raise their aspiration, empowers them to fight for their right to an education and access to basic facilities. We are proud of our many success stories and the impact they have on those around them. That’s why, we do what we do!
Mumbai is home to the OSCAR Foundation head office and 60% of the staff come from the local slum community they serve. 2,000 children in the State of Maharashtra are enrolled with OSCAR. Other centres are located in Delhi and Karnataka.
OSCAR’s vision is to create a world which inspires young people to become role models and mobilise their community to make a positive social impact. OSCAR’s mission is to encourage leadership, teamwork and provide educational support to young people from disadvantaged communities and equip them with the tools to fight poverty. OSCAR’s objective is to ensure children and youth stay in school. To discover, develop and nurture talent, to educate and teach using football as the tool of engagement.
Find out more: www.oscar-foundation.org