AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI, September 26:
Mr. A R Khaleel, Member, AFC Social Responsibility and Chairman of
I-League Committee welcomed the delegates of the AFC-AFDP Dream Asia CSR
Seminar, hosted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and
supported by AFDP Official Partner PepsiCo at the Capital on Thursday
(September 26, 2013).
“I am a firm believer and advocate of Social Responsibility in Football,” Khaleel said in his address.
“CSR
is becoming a growing focus here is India with the recent passing of a
new Bill where 2% of companies’ net profit will be committed towards
CSR.
“It
is therefore a crucial time that we sit together and decide how we
activate ‘football conscience’ and discuss how the private and public
sectors work together to contribute to spur positive changes through
football in the South & Central Region of Asia.”
“AIFF’s
CSR programme is very good. The goals are very clear, and with
Grassroots paving the way it is surely heading in the right direction.
India can be an international leader of CSR in football in the coming
years,” Dr. Michele Cox, Director of Development Programme &
Marketing, Asian Football Development Programme (AFDP) – a Jordan based
foundation also chaired and founded by AFC Social Responsibility
Chairman HRH and FIFA Vice President Asia Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein)
told www.the-aiff.com.
Mr.
Urs Zanitti, CEO AFDP echoed Cox: “It’s amazing to see all these NGO’s
who have been doing an excellent job over the years. Now AIFF is
assuming a strong role in CSR, and linking both together it can be a
powerful tool for football development in India.”
The
two-day Course which aims at promoting CSR in football in Asia,
particularly the AFC Dream Asia 10 year CSR Strategy, has participation
of international experts from UEFA, West Ham United, The British
Council, World Vision, Royal DSM, Global Alliance for Nutrition and
streetfootballworld.
AIFF Grassroots Manager Mr. Suvrat Thatte presented AIFF’s vision for Social Development through football.
“AIFF
would like to reinforce the need for a strong Social Responsibility
which utilizes the power of football to act as a catalyst for a
sustainable and positive social change in the society,” Thatte
addressed.
“AIFF is committed to Social Responsibility working with internal and external stakeholders in the sport,” he added.
A few case studies were put up highlighting CSR at the football association level in India.
Shivam,
an 18-year old student who is under the umbrella of Magic Bus, a NGO
which is also one of AFDP’s partners, shared his journey from an ‘awara’
(vagabond) to an aspirant footballer.
“It’s
amazing how my life has changed from a teenager who was essentially
doing nothing with his life to a responsible boy who along with dreaming
to become a footballer is a better human being too,” said Shivam.
“I
have guided my friends, most taking to drugs, to follow the right path
and do something in life. Now I have respect in my society, an aim to
fulfill, added the Delhite.
Pinky, a 12-year old girl associated with Slum Soccer, another NGO, chronicled her journey.
“My
father owns a tea stall in Delhi and my mother is a maid in the society
we live in. For me to dream big was impossible. I loved played football
but never even dreamt of doing anything constructive with it, until
Slum Soccer happened in my life,” she narrated.
Taking
a cue from this inspiring story I-League CEO Sunando Dhar, who was
representing AIFF at the Seminar, said while intruding himself, “I
really hope aspiring footballers with such inspiring stories like that
of Shivam will play the I-League someday.”
“Talent
can be unearthed from the deepest pockets. India is such a huge country
and there is a lot of talent,” India Senior Pro Gouramangi Singh told www.the-aiff.com.
“You
just need to tap them. Such NGO’s are doing a great job and aspiring
footballers who do not find the platform or don’t know about them are
being tapped through these NGO’s.” the veteran stopper-back added.
Among
the activities of the day, Ms Mathilde Forslund, Advocacy Manager,
Social Responsibility Department AFC presented the Dream Asia 10 Year
CSR Strategy giving an insight on programmes at football confederation
level and AFC programmes, while Mr. Peter Gillieron, UEFA Fair Play and
Social Responsibility Committee (chairman), shared UEFA’s CSR Strategy.
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