New Delhi: Casio India Co Pvt Ltd has launched a new CSR initiative, ‘Sports for Change,’ in collaboration with Sportz Village Foundation to support underprivileged children in Delhi-NCR. The initiative aims to enhance access to sports education and empower children across 20 government schools in Noida under the Uttar Pradesh State Board.
The program will unfold in two phases, starting with a Baseline Assessment focusing on students' health, well-being, and mapping their sports interests. Following this, the Sports Excellence Program will provide targeted training in four schools designated as Sports Development Centres. These centres will offer advanced training, allowing students to develop skills in specific sports.
The launch of the ‘Sports for Change’ program took place recently at Rajkiya Inter College in Noida. Casio and Sportz Village Foundation undertook extensive surveys with students, parents, and teachers across multiple government schools to understand the challenges in providing sports education. The program aims to address these gaps by creating opportunities for children to engage in sports while improving their physical and mental well-being. The initiative will also focus on enhancing sports infrastructure in these schools, providing playgrounds and proper facilities for the students.
Akira Watanabe, Director of Casio India, highlighted the importance of this initiative, saying that Casio’s philosophy of creativity and contribution is reflected in this effort. The program, he explained, is designed to encourage children to participate in structured sports activities both during and after school hours. It aims to create equal opportunities for all students, including girls, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have the chance to develop their talents and pursue sports at a higher level.
Over the coming year, the initiative will engage around 4,000 children by incorporating sports into their regular school curriculum. Physical assessments will help identify specific sports talents, with 200 top students selected for advanced training at the four Sports Development Centres. These students will receive expert guidance and opportunities to participate in tournaments and trials, allowing them to further develop their skills and potentially compete on larger platforms.
BI Bureau