Feature

From Basketball Courts to Boundless Dreams: Hi 5 Youth Foundation’s Journey of Empowerment

How Usha and Sundar are Inspiring Young Lives, One Hoop at a Time

GivingPi Editorial Team

28th September 2023

"When doing philanthropy, it is essential that we aim high and seize the opportunity to do a lot. By focusing on both scale and quality, support will emerge from the most unexpected sources, as there's a collective desire to rally behind meaningful change."

"Every now and then, a moment of inspiration unfolds before us, leaving a lasting impression," shared Usha and Sundar, founders of the Hi 5 Youth Foundation. "We witnessed such a moment during a school basketball tournament in Mumbai, where underprivileged children wearing vibrant green Hi 5 jerseys fearlessly took to the court with a determination to win. They exceeded expectations and challenged the notion that basketball is reserved only for the privileged few in India," Usha described. Sundar further added, "This particular moment encapsulates the essence of our mission at Hi 5 Youth Foundation—to ignite a relentless pursuit of excellence in both basketball and life among young children."

Established in 2015, Hi 5 Youth Foundation embodies Usha and Sundar’s commitment to empowering young children from tribal and urban slum areas, catalyzing change at the grassroots level. Fueled by an audacious vision to inspire a sense of accomplishment and ambitious dreams among children and transform the landscape of basketball in India, Hi 5 channels its impact through two dynamic programs that engage children from as early as ten years old up to their completion of undergraduate studies.

Central to their endeavors is the flagship program, 'Hope Thru Hoops,' a rigorous, multi-level, multi-year program blended with life skills, fostering excellence and allowing underprivileged children to experience success and winning moments. Serving as one of the world's largest grassroots programs of its kind, 'Hope thru Hoops’ emerges as a powerful force in the lives of children, nurturing their growth as athletes and empowering them to be confident individuals with a clear sense of purpose and ambition. Complementing this athletic journey is the 'Pathways to Success' initiative, an educational and counseling support endeavor that empowers Hi 5 children, ensuring that their successes on the basketball court seamlessly translate into tangible achievements in higher education, as well as enhanced prospects for employment and livelihoods.

From Passion to Action: The Genesis of Hi 5 Youth Foundation

The seeds of Usha and Sundar’s philanthropic journey were planted through a series of experiences that ignited their passion, marking an inflection point in their lives. Advocates for social change, they made a conscious decision in December 2014 to dedicate more time to philanthropic endeavors. They ventured beyond conventional programs and wanted to have a unique approach, “We did not want to do the same things, we wanted to create something valuable and different for underprivileged children in India.” Drawing upon Usha's background as a social worker and curriculum designer, Sundar's involvement with the Sankara Eye Foundation and his dedication to impact and scalability, and his colleague from Mastek, P Ramaswamy, who has over three decades of experience in basketball, the Hi 5 Youth Foundation was set up in 2015 with three co-founders.

The realization of the positive impact of basketball on their son and the children he coached in San Francisco coupled with extensive research highlighting the positive influence of team sports on personal and professional development, further propeled their vision to empower underprivileged children through the sport they loved.

Children of Hi 5 Youth Foundation celebrating a victory

"In India, basketball is often seen as an elite sport, inaccessible to underprivileged children due to limited opportunities in government schools. Witnessing the positive impact of basketball on our son and the children he coached in San Francisco; we were inspired to bring this opportunity to India."

- Usha & Sundar on why they chose basketball

Hope Thru Hoops, a basketball excellence program, is imparting valuable life skills to young children

Basketball as a Catalyst for Change

Hi 5's flagship program, 'Hope Thru Hoops,' is a rigorous, multi-level, and multi-year excellence program meticulously interwoven with life skills development such as decision-making, teamwork, discipline, empathy, and respect. It fosters excellence while allowing underprivileged children to experience success and winning moments. Engaging children from age ten, the program focuses on basketball skill development and nurturing aspirations. Immersed in tournaments, children are inspired to set goals, and foster a mindset of determination and perseverance, both on and off the court. Through the program journey, they not only refine their basketball prowess but also build character, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Operating for over 300 days each year, the program guides children from beginner to advanced skill levels, providing them one hour of training per day, six days a week, ensuring a robust foundation for continuous growth. Over the past eight years, this program has impacted the lives of more than 4,000 children across Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, despite two years of setback in the pandemic. The comprehensive support provided by Hi 5 includes coaching through a structured curriculum, uniforms, equipment, and the establishment of modern, high-quality basketball courts at various centers. Hi 5's network of 35 centers across municipal schools, residential schools, and tribal residential schools serves as vibrant hubs of inspiration and learning, elevating the potential of each child.

The program’s impact extends well beyond basketball, with over 90% of the children experiencing victorious moments and 100% of them surpassing the national average pass rate of 82% for the 10th grade. Notably, six Hi 5 children's stories were published in NBA India's Coffee Table Book, 'Home Court – Inside India's Unique Basketball Communities'. Sunny Malik, NBA India Global Partnerships & Media Business Head said, “We are inspired by the remarkable journeys of these talented children from the Hi 5 Youth Foundation. Their dedication, resilience, and love for the game of basketball have not only transformed their own lives but also have the power to inspire countless others. We are proud to have had the opportunity to feature these extraordinary young athletes and believe that they are examples of the immense potential that exists within India's unique basketball communities.”

Usha and Sundar's philanthropic vision extends beyond the basketball court, unlocking avenues for children to uncover their potential and embarking on journeys of personal growth. The results of their efforts are exemplified by an example where seven Hi 5 students secured scholarships to the Corvuss American Academy in Karjat – India's first international boarding school for student athletes. Usha's eyes gleamed as she recalled the initial feelings of overwhelm among the students, who questioned their ability to match the standards of their international school counterparts. “However, their determination to play ignited a fire within them. We provided English training and enlisted the support of image-building experts to groom them," she shared. Looking ahead, the selected children are poised to apply for US university scholarships in basketball, reflecting the far-reaching impact of the Foundation’s efforts.

Sundar further emphasized, “Experiencing a winning moment propels students forward, providing a clear sense of purpose.” Recalling the inspiring story of a family, he shared, "One of our students from the 2015 batch, Rakesh Jaiswar, is now a part-time coach with us and pursuing his degree alongside. His legacy at Hi 5 lives on through his eight nieces and nephews, affectionately known as ‘the family of hoopers’, who have joined our program. Witnessing their uncle's journey with Hi 5, they train every day at Motilal Nagar Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation School. Recently, their exceptional performance secured them the runners-up position in the Summer Slam tournament."

Usha and Sundar attribute Hi 5's impact to their dedicated team of over 50 coaches, many of whom were former basketball players themselves. Usha recalled one such story of resilience exemplified by Yogita Baswat from Koloshi village near Vajreshwari, "After completing her class 12, Yogita lost touch with us. However, she resurfaced after her marriage and childbirth, and despite initial concerns about judgment, she successfully navigated multiple evaluation rounds and was selected as a Hi 5 coach." As a Hi 5 coach, Yogita is inspiring others by showcasing the possibilities of a better life through education and job opportunities. Her words revealed her deep passion for basketball and her aspiration to share the same joy with girls in her community, "Now, I'm seen as an example, motivating others to embrace basketball and pursue higher studies."

Hoop It Up - Hi 5 Youth Foundation's intra tournament

A Path Riddled with Challenges

Usha and Sundar’s journey has not been without its challenges.

In India, sports participation among children often takes a backseat to education, particularly among tribal communities where support for sports dwindles after class 10. To dispel the misconception that sports hinder academic performance, they launched the 'Pathways to Success' program aimed at academic development and career readiness. An extension of their flagship initiative, it provides financial assistance and counseling support to parents and their children aged 16-19 years, who might have otherwise dropped out to engage in manual labor. It empowers them with career guidance, subject support, government program enrolment, college admissions assistance and aids in opening bank accounts. The impact of this program is evident, with over 199 children continuing their education post class 10 and class 12, achieving a 100% pass result, a drop in the number of early marriages, and a decrease in drop out numbers.

Amidst the challenges and intricacies inherent in grassroots sports and working with underprivileged children, Usha and Sundar maintain a resolute focus on empowering young lives through play. They remarked, “Despite the challenges we face, our outlook remains positive, and our journey continues. We have just begun, and there is a long way to go.”

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Hi 5 student scores a winning shot

Philanthropic Aspirations of Usha and Sundar

Despite these hurdles, Usha and Sundar remain undeterred, “It has been a long journey, but one filled with great responsibility and joy.” With bolder aspirations for the future, this year alone, they are scaling their flagship program to three additional states, bringing the total number of operational states to eight. Furthermore, they aim to onboard more schools from remote regions, fostering inclusivity and extending their flagship program to a wider range of underprivileged children. The couple envision establishing a national academy in the next 18 months catering to children with elite level skills. Envisaged as a residential sports facility equipped with multiple courts and living quarters, this academy will elevate these children to a new level of training and development.

In the realm of giving, Usha and Sundar’s learnings for fellow philanthropists embarking on their giving journeys echos their belief in striving for excellence and aiming for both quality and scale to create a lasting impact. They emphasize that philanthropy is not about only making small contributions, urging funders not to settle for low aspirations. They believe that philanthropists possess the resources and capital to make a significant difference and should seize the opportunity to do much more—with a focus on quality and scale.

They passionately call upon funders to embrace grassroots initiatives across sectors and causes, emphasizing that by doing so, funders can forge deeper connections with communities, address systemic issues, and foster innovation. Stressing the significance of patient giving, they affirm, “It is important to be patient. Impact is not achieved in a year's time; it requires sustained efforts and long-term vision.”

As they look ahead towards India@100, their resolute vision is to continue striving with the conviction, "Having glimpsed the sky, we persist in our journey to reach it!"