Bradfield College has played host to 16 youngsters from low income communities in India as part of the OSCAR Foundation Football and Education tour.
The children live in overcrowded slum communities and rural villages, with no running water or facilities.
Despite the hardships, OSCAR children are vibrant, enthusiastic, football mad young people with a desire to change their lives and give back to their communities.
The OSCAR Foundation was founded by Ashok Rathod, who grew up in the second largest slum in Mumbai.
His mission was to teach children about education, and he identified football as the tool of engagement.
From humble beginnings, OSCAR currently has over 7,000 children regularly attending school, and it has impacted the lives of 14,000 children since 2010.
UK school tours have become a key programme for OSCAR, creating life changing opportunities, raising funds and aspirations.
For the first time, a mixed team of under-16 OSCAR girls and boys will have the opportunity to travel, meet new friends, learn from their peers, be inspired to stay in education, to work hard and believe in their dreams.
Bradfield College has been in partnership with the charity since 2018 when the school welcomed 15 Mumbai girls from the OSCAR Foundation’s Kick Like A Girl Tour.
A year later Bradfield hosted a touring boys’ team and this year the whole College community has come together to raise more than £17,000 to help fund the tour.
Dr Christopher Stevens, headmaster, said: “Bradfield College is thrilled to welcome a third touring party from India and to partner with OSCAR, the London Nautical School and Manchester City Football Club for a unique opportunity to share a passion for sport which transcends different cultures and backgrounds.
“Bringing people together to learn from each other is Education in its purest form.”
