Engaging Indian youth through inclusive sport

ASOP India has developed an international award programme in cooperation with the International Award for Young People. The award is geared towards Indian youth volunteers working in the field of spor and development.

Launched at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October 2010, the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) India has been progressing at a rapid pace to deliver the Australian Government’s international development program to those most disadvantaged peoples in India.

The ASOP India program is already working with five different development agencies to engage young people in inclusive sport projects. A new collaboration between the International Award for Young People (IAYP) and ASOP India partners will put the spotlight on the achievements of Indian youth volunteers and recognise their commitment to creating opportunities for the disadvantaged to get involved in sport through ASOP India.

The international award is an exciting self-development program available to all young people worldwide aged between 14 and 25 years.

The program will reward grassroots community sport coaches for their commitment to volunteerism and the service they provide to the community. It will also encourage and acknowledge physical fitness and facilitate life-changing opportunities for adventure and personal challenge. Most importantly, the Award program will help these youngsters to stand on their own feet by supporting the ongoing development of livelihood and life skills.

The three-year collaboration aims to build the skills and capacity of approximately 350 trainers, peer leaders and volunteer community sports coaches of ASOP partners to become certified IAYP assessors, licensed to supervise and certify award program activities for the benefit and empowerment of more young people at the grassroots level across the country.

"The IYAP program acknowledges community service and marginalised youths who put in voluntary service under ASOP India. This partnership will provide unprecedented opportunities for individuals to undertake character building and leadership training and grow as individuals,’" said ASOP India Coordinator Vivek Ramchandani.

"They will be provided with opportunities that challenge the limits of their endurance and expand their personal frontiers, making them exemplary peer leaders and motivated coaches who support their communities with passion and commitment."

‘At the same time, they will be helped to develop the vocational skills necessary to earn a living and attain financial independence."

‘We expect the partnership with IYAP will serve as a powerful incentive for our partners’ volunteer community sport coaches to keep up their good work," said Vivek.

The ASOP India program is supported by the following Australian and Indian sporting organisations: