Youth Venture India

Ashok - CHANGEMAKER

Posted on 09. Jul, 2009 by Youth Venture India in Education, Our Changemakers, Sports-based Development

Ashok’s Venture: Oscar

Ashok lives in one of Mumbai’s largest slums, Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar Colony.  He grew up watching many of his childhood friends drop out of school and take to drugs and alcohol. Ashok was determined to ensure that younger boys would not be trapped by the same pattern.  His Venture, Oscar, engages boys who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out through an (almost) universal passion: football.  Oscar provides members the opportunity to train, play, and compete with other local teams.  To be a member, each boy must attend Oscar’s informal classes twice a week, which help develop math, Hindi, English, leadership, and life skills.  Oscar also engages parents, many of whom are apathetic about their children’s education, through sessions with respected community leaders.

Ashok was one of CNN IBN’s Real Heroes 2009 Awardees.  Read more here.

Read Ashok’s interview on Change.org

Ashok facilitating a Youth Venture workshop.

What do you think?  Leave a comment for Ashok below.

Tags: drop outs, football, mumbai, soccer, sport