Bob Feller once said - "Every day is a fresh opportunity. You can leave yesterday's successes or failures behind and start again. This is how life works with a new sport every day". Sports activities instill in us the spirit of teamwork and a sense of integration and unity. In a large country like India, sports have become an extraordinary bonding force that breaks down barriers between regions and caste, religion and gender.

In a brilliant irony, the personality and character that characterizes Franz Gastler, an American, brings home this distinctive aspect of Indian sport so powerfully. Gastler is an educator, social activist and football coach, and co-founder and director of the non-denominational group Yuva. Translated, the word "yuva" means "youth".

Gastler came to India in 2008 at the age of 29 and got a job at Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra, a non-governmental organization that helps develop Jharkhand.

Gastler holds a bachelor's and master's degree in international political economy. He also holds a certificate in mediation and negotiation through Harvard Law School. His definition of an educated person. A literate person is not someone who can read and write, however, an educated person broadens his worldview, knows how to think and what to think, and realizes that it is their responsibility to give back to society.

Gastler once asked a girl to learn to play football. Gastler is willing to do so and advises her to seek out more teammates, as he believes teamwork can help with gender equality, self-confidence and trust. The decision to use football as a sport is interesting because it is a team sport that, according to Gastler, provides "a powerful platform to bring girls out of isolation and into a positive team environment."

It "gives girls an outlet and forum for self-expression and self-development, a place where a girl recognizes her self-worth and power to break the cycle of poverty," he said. The NGO fights against child marriage by educating children through football. The cycle of poverty leads to illiteracy, poverty and dependency. Yuva is determined to free the girls of Jharkhand from this poverty. The results are commendable as a recent study has shown that there is no evidence of child marriage to a young girl. In addition, youth groups are self-initiated and peer-led and are designed to encourage savings and planning, which helps girls learn skills needed for employment. The girls eventually become coaches at the UVA or participate at the national, state and international levels.

"Before football, a girl was standing alone," he said. "After the game, they become part of the team. She experiences a sense of bonding, great self-confidence, as well as the first impression of gender equality, in which we can do the same activities that men can achieve. ."

Apart from football, Yuwa hosts workshops that discuss topics such as personal hygiene and health gender, domestic violence, gender and self-esteem, gender-based violence as well as financial management and work ethic. The workshops are designed to help girls socialize with everyone in a positive and safe environment that promotes the understanding, development and most holistic development of their personality. It is commonly said that when you educate men, you are educating only one person. However, when you teach a woman, you teach an entire family, a community, and ultimately an entire nation.

An educated woman recognizes the importance of teaching her children to read and generally guarantees a brighter future for the nation. Kofi Annan believes that girls' education is the single greatest social investment with the highest return worldwide.

This initiative of Gastler, an Indian, is truly an inspiring endeavor that motivates people to fulfill their responsibility as Indian citizens of India.