Invest in the Future of Indian Athletes : Support Rural Students in Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

"When I arrived here, I couldn't even afford food," shares Vishnu Lavhale. "All I knew was that I wanted to be an athlete." Coming from a humble background with a small farm that barely sustained his family, Vishnu's dream of representing his country in athletics seemed like a distant star. "My parents hoped I would study and find a job, but I believed in my ability to run for my country."

For four years, Vishnu has trained tirelessly; earning prestigious titles along the way, yet his dream of representing his nation at international platform remains unfulfilled. "Others train in big academies, attend camps, but I can't afford that luxury. While I get good training and nutrition here, to compete at that level, I need to train with the best.” Hence, through Project Sagroli Sunrise, we aim to bring the best facilities here to a small village to empower the rural talent.

This project has enabled numerous girls and boys to excel at state and national levels. Vishnu Lavhale has consistently claimed first place in prestigious events such as the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Amravati Half-Marathon, and EKAL Run Surat. Meanwhile, our talented girls Arati Dudhe and Sulbha Chikne have shattered barriers, consistently securing the top three positions in competitions at both state and national levels.

Sohini Chattopadhyay, the author of 'The Day I Became a Runner: A Women’s History of India through the Lens of Sports,' eloquently portrays the journeys of several girls from the Sagroli Sunrise Project in her chapter titled "Sunrise Project: The Girls Who Rise Before The Sun.".

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/the-drought-fed-running-of-avinash-sable-and-lalita-babar/articleshow/104244804.cms

They see athletics not just as a dream but as a pathway out of poverty. "Sports, especially athletics, are often overlooked in India. No one helps someone who is poor living in a remote rural area become an athlete; it is an expensive affair.” says one student.

Their dedication and potential are undeniable, but they face a significant obstacle: a lack of resources that hinders their ability to compete on an equal footing. Some of these students don't even have basic running shoes. Moreover, maintaining a nutritious diet is crucial for those training under the sun, on mountains, and sand, yet providing this for over 40 students poses a substantial financial challenge for us. This challenge is becoming increasingly difficult to overcome without external support. That is why we urgently need your help.

Our goal is to generate 13,96,800 rupees, which would cover the nutritional costs of 20 students for a year.

This is the breakup for the same:

The support you will provide will help us not only maintain the quality of our program but also expand our reach to include more children in our transformative journey.