Bangalore: Elvis Joseph looks younger than his age of 39. Hundreds of underprivileged people have benefited from his passion for sports and undying motivation to help children in India pursue sports and get recognized.

The sportsperson says he believes sport is the only gift God has given him. His Catholic background has taught him to give one tenth of all that he has.

“The only thing I had was the gift of sports,” says Elvis, who founded Bangalore Schools Sports Foundation (BSSF) on April 4, 2009, to reach out to children and youth in India living with HIV/AIDS. He also works among paraplegic and youth and deprived girl children. He caters to children in slums, prisons and tribal areas.

He shared with Adolf Washington, Special Correspondent of Matters India, his life and projects. Excerpts:

Matters India: You began with just 20 kids, now you reach out to over 2,000 children. The beginning must have been pretty tough.

Elvis John: The starting point was my failures. I failed as an athlete to represent the country with so many challenges and no opportunities. I struggled for support but nothing happened. I had the inclination and desire to raise children and youth who had the talent but no opportunities. That’s how the journey began.

You say you struggled for support. Where did you look for support? Why didn’t you get it?

Yes. I struggled for support. It wasn’t easy. I looked for support from my family, friends, well wishers. Probably they never saw the bigger picture and so they prodded me more into studying. But it was my conscious decision — to live a purpose-driven life.

You quit your job to chase a dream. Was it an easy decision?

It certainly was a big decision I had to make. I quit my job in 2009 as I wanted to establish an organization where I specifically work with children. While in the US for work, I decided to study sports management and got my degree there.

You have given special focus on underprivileged children. Is there any particular reason?

Yes. I feel these many children and youth are deprived of opportunities and the right to play sport. Society has character-assassinated them and shelved them as “Under-privileged” and never acknowledged or groomed their rich God-given talents.

But India paints a dismal picture of sports-promotion. You can’t make a career out of Sport here.

Sport here is seen as a recreational activity but never as a profession in itself. There is no promotion or grooming. And eventually, if you also look at the schools, they charge a sports fee, irrespective of whether the school has a ground, or the children do sports or not. So, I started the Bangalore Schools Sports Foundation (BSSF) to bridge this gap.

I wish we look at sports in with holistic approach toward education so that children and youth can make a wonderful career. It is only sports that disciplines one’s life and keeps him/her healthy, fit, strong and responsible in making informed choices.

Does your Facebook cover spell out your motivation?

Oh yes. It reads “God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls, and coal into diamonds, using Time and Pressure. He is working on me. In his grip, I belong to Jesus Christ. It says it all. I am motivated by a love and compassion toward humanity and to share the love of Christ in this way.

There are many social service/charity organizations that promote sport. What is unique about BSSF?

BSSF is a mission-driven organization with a clear focus on reaching out to children and youth, transforming lives through sports unlike other academies and clubs. It is the only sports NGO in Bangalore. [BSSF’s Champion –in- Me project is a first-of-its-kind project in the world. The program deals with sports for children living with AIDS. The focus here is to eradicate stigma and discrimination through sport as a medium; to empower these kids with the right to play sports; to get them to the mainstream; and to also work on the immune system of the kids.]

You are an athlete. How do you train kids for other sports? Which is your core team?

I train children in athletics, soccer, rugby, kabaddi and now working on hockey and fitness. I induct other coaches to train kids in their respective sport. My core team has been my younger brother Joe Louis, Reeth Abraham- international athlete, Shrikar Archar and Simon Rodrigues of the Bangalore Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services. My brother is a musician (a guitarist) but he supports me completely in raising funds for the projects and supports the administrative concerns. Redemptorist Father Jacob Britto is my mentor.

How do you generate funds for your projects? Has the government been of assistance?

Financial support has been mostly from family members, friends and a few organizations. I have no endorsements or recognition from the government but recently was recognized and appreciated by the UNAIDS Chief Michel Sibidi at Geneva for having two HIV positive children to compete at the Children Olympics.

What projects do you have for the less-privileged?

Our successful projects are ‘Champion in Me – Sports for children living with HIV/AIDS ,. Magic Feet – Soccer for the slum children, Invisible Talent- sports for children and youth in prison, Challenged – sports for paraplegic children and ‘I am She-sports exclusively for the girl children. We do have also the Bangalore School Games, the largest game forum that brings 4,000 children to compete in 12 disciplines of competitive sports.

What do members have to pay at BSSF?

It is free for 90 percent children who train with us only 10 percent children who are from affluent families pay during travel.

The church has also tapped sports talent through her institutions. Don’t you think much more can be done? How can BSSF support?

I had initiated a project called the Catholic School Games exclusively for Catholic schools and colleges. Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras had a meeting inviting all the principals to take this forward but slowly the schools backed out due to academic pressure and time constraints.

Who could partner with your mission?

Anyone who has a passion for sports can support and contribute towards our mission.

Looking back since BSSF’s inception, how do you measure your success?

Honestly, I have lost track of my achievements, so much of Media (print electronic both national and international) but I know the hand and the favor of God has really raised me from ashes to a level I can’t imagine. I have been honored by mayors, governors and eminent personalities from so many countries but my most proud moments have been in winning souls for the glory of God.

Playgrounds in our institutions are shrinking in the name of academic expansion. Your comments.

I tried reaching the government with solution plans to restore corporation play grounds. We even organized a 3-mile run in every constituency for the cause, but it did not materialize.

It is unfortunate that schools charge a sports fee from every student irrespective if they do sports or not. This is unacceptable and totally unfair. We need to emphasize on sports being mandatory in all schools and colleges.

What are your short-term and long term dreams?

My short-term plan is to induct cost-effective value-based sports modules that would identify talented children for the future. Long term goal would be to reach out to one million children and youth and empower them through sports and to be recognized by the government of India and the UNESCO.

What has been your focus on the girl-child?

The present focus is on ‘I am She’ project. The future of sports in India, especially customized sports project, is in under-privileged girl children whose parents are either daily wagers, street vendors or those living in brothels. Our girl-children come from such background and they are being trained to become future sports persons for the country.

(Elvis John can be contacted at elvis316@gmail.com or at +919902247755)