Leveling the Playing Field: FieldConnect
Empowering young minds and their communities through Inclusive Sports Development
Mira bounces gently on her toes, feeling the warm summer breeze against her face. Her jersey sticks to her back, not from sweat, but from excitement. She grips the ball for a second, tracing its patterns, her mind racing with visions of that perfect goal. The referee’s whistle is just seconds away, but in her heart, the match has already begun. She meets her teammate’s eyes, grinning. "Let’s do this!" she whispers.
As the whistle finally blows—she runs, ready to make magic happen!
There is one fundamental aspect of education, and childhood in general, which we often take for granted that every child engages in — sports.
Playing a sport enables an environment of collaboration and camaraderie, breaks down barriers between peers, and has the capacity to bring together a community in a way no other activity can. Unfortunately, while children in private schools are given ample opportunities and access to sports education, the same cannot be said for their peers in government schools. With limited resources, sports and coaching programmes are often viewed as a luxury rather than as a vital component of holistic education. This disparity is further highlighted through the perception that exam results are the most valuable measurement metric in a child’s life. And you already know how we feel about that!
The FieldConnect Programme is designed to bring this access to the children of government schools, especially little girls. The programme seeks to utilise structured sports training to foster personal and social development for children, mobilise community participation by partnering with local clubs and NGOs and share resources to further a child’s accessibility to the necessary infrastructure for sports.
This month, we celebrate the impact of this initiative launched in Goa - the dedication of our coaches, the enthusiasm of our students, and the support of the community that make it all possible.
On 19 September 2024, the FieldConnect Programme, supported by DMI Finance, was launched successfully in GHS Revora Nadora, Goa. In preparation, two football coaches (one male, one female) were hired and infrastructure preparations for the football ground began.
The programme included coaching for girls and boys from grades 2 to 10. Initially, 53 out of 83 students enrolled for the coaching sessions, out of which almost 50% were girls. The students were given football kits with protective gear and matching jerseys. We could almost feel them bubbling with excitement, eager to be a part of their very own football community!
As the coaching sessions picked up momentum, little could stop our young athletes from their training. Even the rains didn’t curb their enthusiasm, they just found a way to continue.
In November 2024, FieldConnect was extended to GPMS Thivim, and students began using the Panchayat ground for training, mobilising the community to become active participants in the programme. That same month, FieldConnect athletes participated in FC Goa Little Gaurs League, the largest football league for children initiated by the Força Goa Foundation. The first (of many!) friendly match was also organised between students of GHS Revora and Assagao Union, with two teams participating from GHS Revora.
As of today, we have 105 students enrolled in the programme. We’re immensely grateful to our dedicated team in Goa who tirelessly drive this effort forward every week. This year, we continue to seek opportunities to expand this initiative, while reflecting on our learnings from the last year. We hope to bring you regular updates through the year, and make you a part of our journey of enabling sports education accessibility to the children of Goa.
Testimonials from the Field
Highlight of the Month
On February 11, 2025, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arunachal Pradesh Education Department. This collaboration aims to strengthen school complexes, enhance teacher pedagogy, and foster community involvement, transforming schools into vibrant learning hubs. Commissioner of Education, Amjad Tak, emphasized the importance of structured interventions to build a sustainable school ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.
Join Our Team
We are expanding our team and currently have openings for the following positions:
Manager, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships: Drive our fundraising initiatives, engage with donors, and build strategic partnerships.
If you are passionate about educational equity and possess the required skills, we encourage you to apply through our ‘Engage’ section at adhyayanfoundation.org
Thank You for Your Support!
Together, we are building a future where sports and education go hand in hand. Let’s continue empowering young athletes and shaping the leaders of tomorrow!
