Young Basketball Captain Yuvraj Mavi Raises Funds to Bring Basketball Courts and Hope to Underserved Schools

Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) student Yuvraj Mavi has raised over 1 Lakh Rupees to provide more basketball and sports opportunities for underprivileged kids through his initiative, BallForAll.

The amount raised has been utilized for the development of basketball infrastructure in six schools, provision of necessary equipment such as basketballs, hoops, and sports shoes, and training for over 200 kids. The initiative has also conducted more than five local tournaments for kids, who have had their first experience with sports and teamwork.

Yuvraj’s association with basketball began in his early childhood years and eventually became his passion. After being part of his school team, a four-minute appearance in his first match became the impetus for him to work even harder and perform better. His hard work made him the team captain, and he led his team to victory in the TAISI National Championships, ISSO Nationals as runners-up, and even got a chance to represent India at the United World Games.

Yuvraj was inspired by the positive change that sport brought to his life and decided to start BallForAll, a project that aims to provide sports equipment to underprivileged children, after witnessing kids in his village playing with makeshift equipment. To ensure long-term sustainability, Yuvraj has also launched an e-commerce platform selling pre-loved goods, reinvesting all proceeds back into the initiative.

The effects of BallForAll go beyond the provision of sports equipment. The project is teaching children valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and leadership through sports. The schools that are part of the project have reported increased engagement and confidence of the children who are part of the project.

Looking to the future, Yuvraj hopes to grow BallForAll to reach even more schools and communities, inspiring other young people to take the initiative to fill the gaps in their own communities. Through sport and purpose, he hopes to create a sustainable model that continues to open doors for children and shows that real change can start with one person.

As he prepares to begin his college journey, Yuvraj is committed to growing BallForAll with a simple mission: no child’s access to sport should be determined by their circumstances.