• The initiative is led by the Real Madrid Foundation with implementing NGO partner KHUSHI
• The program aims to empower more than 200 school children from grade 2- 8
• Ensuring gender equality, both boys and girls will be coached under this program

New Delhi, 26 September 2024: In a significant step to promote the holistic development of young people through the practice of football in India, ROADIS – a Madrid headquartered multinational leader in the investment, development, operation, and management of global infrastructure assets has launched Social Sports Schools in Varanasi in collaboration with the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) – branch of the renowned Real Madrid Club managing its social and educational programs worldwide, and KHUSHI – an NGO established by cricket icon Kapil Dev to support underprivileged children.

The initiative aims to train in values over 200 first-generation learners from grades II^nd to VIIIth, providing them with the essential tools to navigate challenges and unlock their full potential. The program will train boys and girls to ensure equal opportunities for both. In the first phase, the program is launched in two schools – Primary School Daffi and Composite Vidyalaya Naveen in Varanasi. Through the program, the students will receive an experience that will complete their education, life skill, development and nutrition requirements.

ROADIS has been running this program in Kedah in West Bengal for over 7 years. Following the positive impact, ROADIS is now expanding the program to Varanasi where it is currently constructing and operating a 192kms stretch Varanasi Aurangabad NH-2 Tollways Private Limited.

Eduardo Calvo, Global Corporate Responsibility Director-ROADIS, expressing the significance of the program said, “Sports plays an integral part in our growing up. Through this initiative, we bring an opportunity for the boys and girls of Varanasi to experience a new way of life that is full of opportunities. With the RMF program, we now complete the full circle of holistic development for children.  We are starting the RMF program in 2 schools where our Shikshantra Plus program for quality education with KHUSHI is already in effect. We believe that by equipping students with both physical and intellectual tools, we are paving the way for a generation of resilient, socially conscious, and successful individuals.”

The RMF program is a transformative initiative that leverages the power of football to instil values and foster a culture of integrity among young students, while simultaneously nurturing essential life skills and important values like respect, teamwork, autonomy, self-esteem, health, equality and motivation. To ensure international level of training for the local coaches that include both female and male educators; the trainers were trained on the Real Madrid methodology by RMF specialized football trainer who visited Varanasi for a 3-day training camp. This camp empowered the local educators to carry forward the program with the same commitment and excellence as that of RMF.

Julio González Ronco, Managing Director of the Real Madrid Foundation, adds, “Educational sports is a one of best ways to instil values of teamwork, collaboration, leadership and more. With our initiative, we envision to foster a value driven culture of diversity, inclusion and equality. Our coaches include male and female trainers and our program trains both girls and boys. Creating a platform for equal opportunity is essential for building strong individuals and a strong nation.”

Harish Gosain, Executive Director-KHUSHI, emphasizing the collaborative spirit behind the initiative said, “This partnership perfectly blends life skills and sports education. The Real Madrid Foundation’s expertise in football, combined with our deep understanding of the local community, ensures that the students receive a holistic experience. We are proud to be a part of a program that enhances athletic skills and prepares these young minds for the challenges of life.”

This program demonstrates the commitment of ROADIS in creating a positive change through innovative and inclusive education. By investing in the holistic development of the young minds, the initiative is contributing to the creation of a brighter and more equitable future.

About Varanasi Aurangabad NH-2 Tollways Private Limited (VAH)

Varanasi Aurangabad NH-2 Tollways Private Limited formerly known as Soma Indus Varanasi Aurangabad Tollways Private Limited is a concession responsible for the construction, operations and maintenance of the 192kms six-lane highway from Varanasi to Aurangabad. As part of its CSR initiative, ROADIS has adopted 3 schools in Varanasi and 10 across India to implement the Shikshantra Plus program for holistic development and quality education with NGO partner KHUSHI. ROADIS, in collaboration with THF, has also deployed 4 Medical Mobile Units (MMUs) to bring access to healthcare at the doorstep of residents in Varanasi.

About ROADIS

ROADIS is a global reference in the development, operation and management of essential infrastructure assets. It currently manages 1,596 km of toll roads in operation in 9 concessions across five countries: Brazil, Mexico, India, Spain and Portugal. ROADIS is a subsidiary of Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), one of the largest pension investment managers in Canada.

About Real Madrid Foundation

 The Real Madrid Foundation mission is to use sport to improve people´s lives, whatever their circumstances or abilities, fostering the educational values of team sport and promoting it as an instrument of social intervention. The education of children, especially those at risk of exclusion, the development cooperation and the promotion of inclusive sport are the main lines of the programmes promoted by the Real Madrid Foundation aimed at improving the lives of those most in need since 1997. During the season 2022-23 the Foundation carried out 1.279 social sports activities, and projects in the fields of Education, integration of vulnerable groups and development, using sport as a tool in more than 95 countries impacting 98.505 individuals.

About KHUSHI

KHUSHI (Kinship for Humanitarian Social and Holistic Intervention) is an independent Not for Profit organization working for the upliftment and holistic development of underprivileged children, women and vulnerable families. With inception in December of 2003 by Cricket legend Lt. Col Kapil Dev and his philanthropic partners, KHUSHI works with marginalized communities to empower the poor through child education and community development programmes. In the year 2023-24, KHUSHI has made sustainable and holistic interventions across 13 states in India reaching out to 2,00,233 children through 78 schools and 21 CLC’s.