Oscar Foundation

Oscar Foundation runs a Football & Life Skills Programme rooted in the belief that the core values found in football serve as vital principles for community development. Operating under the 'No School, No Football' policy, the organisation offers football and life skills sessions to children from underprivileged backgrounds, provided they attend school regularly. These sessions encompass crucial life skills, such as self-awareness, decision-making, coping with emotions and stress, empathy, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, and interpersonal skills. Moreover, specialized sessions cater to Very Young Adolescent girls, focusing on gender-related life skills, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, menstruation, and gender equity. The in-house curriculum is delivered by AIFF ACCREDITED D licensed coaches and emphasizes socio-emotional learning, value education, and physical activity.

Oscar Foundation operates Community Learning Centres (CLCs), which serve as safe spaces for children and youth to engage in skill development and interaction. These centres play a pivotal role in promoting digital literacy among children residing in low-income communities by granting them access to computers. Oscar Foundation is dedicated to narrowing the digital divide by offering a range of courses tailored to different age groups, including certification from the National Institute for Information Technology. Additionally, 500 children within our community centres utilize tablets to facilitate their educational access and progress.

The Young Leader Project stands as a pivotal 'football for development' initiative, serving as the cornerstone of the Oscar Foundation's sustainability. This project identifies and trains youth from low-income communities, including past beneficiaries of Oscar's programmes, to work with children in underprivileged areas. Since 2010, 750 young leaders have received training through this initiative nationwide. Furthermore, it conducts its flagship 'Kick Like a Girl' training, specifically designed to empower girls and challenge preconceived societal roles. Female Young Leaders, equipped with these insights, apply them on the field while mentoring young girls through a gender-focused life-skills curriculum, promoting empowerment and equality.

The 'Enabling Change Project' is the Oscar Foundation's initiative dedicated to fostering disability inclusion. This project's primary goal is to provide a safe environment for children with disabilities to actively participate in football and life skills sessions. It achieves this by offering specially tailored activities that take into account the unique needs of these children.

The Football Excellence Project by Oscar Foundation is an exceptional initiative designed to provide talented young football players in Mumbai with the chance to participate in the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) youth leagues. Under this initiative, any skilled child from their programme is encouraged to attend open trials, from which the top-performing players are chosen to represent the organisation's teams in different age categories.