This winter, fields across five locations in India were transformed into hubs of energy, teamwork and possibility as Khelo Rugby delivered its annual Winter Camp.
More Than A Game: Learning Through Sport
Reaching 2,783 children and supported by 252 young coaches and youth leaders, the Khelo Rugby Winter Camp was about much more than learning how to pass a ball or score a try. It was a powerful example of learning by doing where practical, hands-on experiences helped young people build confidence, leadership skills and a strong sense of belonging within their communities.
Spread across five locations – Kolkata, Bengaluru, Haripur, Uluberia and Saraswatipur – the scale of the Winter Camp demonstrated what is possible when community-based sport is used as a tool for development. Grounds became places of connection, where children from different backgrounds and communities came together, friendships were formed, and positive role models were visible and accessible.
Youth-Led Planning and Responsibility
Learning began long before the first whistle. In the lead-up to the camp, children and youth leaders developed vital life skills by planning the event themselves – organising attendance schedules, booking transport and mobilising more than 40 communities. Even coordinating the preparation and distribution of 12,000 breakfasts was a significant logistical challenge, entirely managed by the youth involved.
Leadership In Action On The Field
Throughout the camp, young coaches took the lead: organising teams, leading warm-ups, supporting younger players, resolving any conflict and motivating each other through chilly early mornings. These moments of participation and responsibility are where meaningful learning happens.
By being trusted to take on leadership roles, make decisions and learn from mistakes, young people developed resilience, communication skills and self-belief; qualities that extend far beyond sport and into education, employment, and community life.
Creating Role Models Through The Coaching Pathway
The role of the youth coaches and leaders is central to the camp’s success. All of these coaches are graduates of Khelo Rugby’s own pathway programmes. For them, the Winter Camp represents a new beginning, offering a chance to step into leadership, give back to their communities and see themselves as role models.
Coaching younger children not only strengthens their technical rugby knowledge but also deepens a sense of purpose and civic responsibility. For many, it marks a turning point, from participant to leader.
Khelo Rugby's Wider Work & Impact
Khelo Rugby is a programme run by Future Hope in Kolkata and North East India, supported by Atlas Asia. Working in some of the most deprived communities and slums, where education has often been seen as an unaffordable luxury, Khelo Rugby uses rugby as a tool to teach crucial life skills, deliver educational opportunities and empower children to pursue higher education and brighter futures.
The programme’s impact has been widely recognised. Khelo Rugby was awarded official World Rugby ‘Spirit of Rugby’ partner status in 2017 and again in 2019, acknowledging its commitment to values-led sport and social change.
A Strong Start To The Year
As the year begins, the Khelo Rugby Winter Camp stands as a reminder that new beginnings don’t always start in classrooms or offices. Sometimes, they begin on a dusty field, with a ball, a team, and the chance to learn by doing.
For thousands of young people this winter, the camp marked the start of something bigger: confidence gained, leadership discovered, and communities strengthened from the ground up.
