Why Sports?
At the Kavita and Vinod Khanna Foundation, we believe sports can be life-changing — especially for
children growing up in environments burdened by addiction, unemployment, and hopelessness. In
Punjab’s border villages, our sports programme gives young people purpose, structure, and joy — while
building health, discipline, and resilience.
What We Do
Our initiative runs daily football coaching in 117 villages and volleyball programmes in 50 villages
across the districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot. With the support of 22 trained coaches and over 100
local volunteers, more than 3,500 children — girls and boys — participate in structured training sessions
each week.
These are not just games. Each session is designed to:
- Create safe, inclusive community spaces where they feel supported
- Promote physical fitness and teamwork
- Build self-esteem and leadership
- Keep children away from the influence of drugs and negative peer pressure
Impact at a Glance (FY 2024–25)
- 117 villages offering daily football coaching
- 50 villages with active volleyball programmes
- 22 full-time coaches + 100+ village volunteers
- 3500+ children engaged every week
- 20% girl participation — and growing
- Significant improvements in school attendance, behaviour, and confidence
How It Works
Each village has a dedicated coach, and volunteers who run sessions 5–6 days a week, after school hours.
Coaches teach not just sport techniques and drills, but also life values like respect, fairness, commitment,
and teamwork.
They serve as mentors — someone the children can look up to, learn from, and confide in.
What Parents Say
“My son used to wander the streets after school. Now, he goes to coaching daily, and talks about
becoming a football coach himself.”
— Parent from Batala block, Gurdaspur
“Our daughters are stronger, more confident — and the boys treat them with respect.”
— Village elder, Gurdsapur
Beyond the Field
We regularly organise:
- Village-level tournaments to build confidence and excitement
- Leadership camps to identify and nurture young talent
- Workshops with professional coaches, including visiting international trainers
Many of our participants are now taking the initiative to coach younger children in their communities —
creating a powerful cycle of change.
How You Can Help
You can help us deepen and expand this work by:
- Sponsoring a village sports programme
- Funding training kits or tournaments
- Partnering with us to reach more districts
Every child kept on the playing field is one child kept away from addiction.
Grassroots Initiatives: Nurturing Future Champions
In an effort to bring these benefits to the children of Punjab, the Foundation, in collaboration with the Roundglass Foundation and The Art of Living, has embarked on an ambitious project to promote physical activities among children, through daily coaching at the village level, in each village of Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency.
Daily Football Coaching Sessions
Location: over 167 villages across Gurdaspur and counting
Participants: Boys and girls
Structure: Each village has professionally trained volunteers, supervised by professionally trained Level D/E coaches, who conduct daily coaching
Tools for Success: Provision of all the necessary sports gear. Each girl receives her own football for independent practice
Looking Forward: Expanding Horizons
KVKF’s immediate goal is to expand this program to encompass all villages within the Lok Sabha constituency of Gurdaspur, once represented by Vinod ji. The foundation also plans to enrich its offerings by incorporating volleyball and kabaddi, aiming for comprehensive sports outcomes for the participating children.
Through these efforts, KVKF aims to foster a culture of sports in rural Punjab, ensuring the physical and mental well-being of its youth and paving the way for a healthier, more vibrant community.
