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 7,000 girls and boys.