Co-founders
R Sundar
Co-founder & Director
R Sundar is the Co-founder & Director of Hi5. He is responsible for the overall direction, scaling, funding and financial sustainability of the organisation.
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Co-founder & DirectorR Sundar is the co-founder of Mastek Ltd., one of India’s early global tech solution companies and Executive Director of Majesco Ltd, the U.S. subsidiary of Mastek. He is also a board member of Sankara Eye Foundation, a US-based non-profit organization that works toward eliminating curable blindness in India.
His love for basketball and interest in helping underprivileged children right from the grassroot level were instrumental is the founding of Hi5 Youth Foundation. He strongly believes that underprivileged children lack the infrastructure, direction and opportunity to play and excel in sports in India. ‘Play’ is also a great medium to nurture young talent, inculcate values in them and encourage the strive for excellence. At Hi5, Sundar is responsible for the overall direction, scaling, funding and financial sustainability of the organisation.
Usha Sundar
Co-founder & Director of Operations
Usha Sundar is Co-founder & Director of Operations at Hi5. She drives and oversees all the activities at Hi5 Youth Foundation.
Read MoreUsha Sundar
Co-founder & Director of OperationsHaving been an instructor and volunteer at various social sector organizations involved with children, youth and adult education in India and US, Usha Sundar took up the role of Director of Operations at Hi5 Youth Foundation. She was keen on co-founding Hi5 Youth Foundation because she has always been involved in helping out other NGOs that nurture lives of underprivileged children and basketball is a sport that’s close to her and family’s heart.
Apart from managing the daily operations of all the centres at Hi5 and functioning of the programs, she is also personally involved in designing and rolling out the life-skills training to the children with a special focus on empowering girls at Hi5.
P Ramaswamy
Co-founder & Director of Coaching
P Ramaswamy is Co-founder & Director of Coaching at Hi5 Youth Foundation. He is responsible for the high quality structured coaching program.
Read MoreP Ramaswamy
Co-founder & Director of CoachingP Ramaswamy, (known as Ramesh and Ramu Sir in basketball circles) has been actively associated with the game the last 35 years—as a student, player, captain, referee and coach. He has represented University of Mumbai and Mumbai North District at state championships and as a captain, he has led his team to famous wins during his time!
His inspiration and love for the game comes from his father Shri G. Parameswaran (GP sir), who was the coach of the Indian Women’s Basketball team as well as an international referee. At Hi5, he is responsible for the high quality structured coaching program, that aims to nurture and develop coaches and young players with strong emphasis on fundamentals and a drive to excel. He currently works as the Associate Director, Banking and Fin. Services, at Cognizant Technology Services, one of India’s leading IT companies.
Leadership
Anshul Jain
Head – Operations
Anshul Jain is a sports management professional with 6+ years of experience in grassroots sports and coach training. Prior to Hi5,
Read MoreAnshul Jain
Head – OperationsAnshul Jain is a sports management professional with 6+ years of experience in grassroots sports and coach training. Prior to Hi5, Anshul has worked with companies like KOOH Sports, Box8 and American School of Bombay and has been the co-founder of a sports education company. Anshul holds a Sports Management Diploma from Griffith University and an Engineering degree. Before joining the sports industry Anshul has worked in education and consulting field for 4 years. He loves spending time on the ground with the children and enjoys playing a game or two of any sport on the weekends.
Farheen Thange
Senior Manager – Finance, Admin and HR
Farheen Thange is a finance professional with 1 + years of experience in the financial sector. Before being a part of Hi5 youth foundation Farheen had
Read MoreFarheen Thange
Senior Manager – Finance, Admin and HRFarheen Thange is a finance professional with 1 + years of experience in the financial sector. Before being a part of Hi5 youth foundation Farheen had a working experience in the FPnA section of OYO and Shipping department of the Indian Oil Corporation. Farheen holds a professional degree of a Cost and Management Accountant from the Institute of the Cost Accountants of India and also is a Bcom graduate from Mumbai University. Apart from academics she has always been inclined towards dance and drama activities. Farheen also has a sports touch to her personality as she has also been a table tennis player.
Geet Gera
Senior Manager – Operations
Geet has over 7 years of experience working in domains such as the healthcare sector and as the core-team member of a leading travel/transportation
Read MoreGeet Gera
Senior Manager – OperationsGeet has over 7 years of experience working in domains such as the healthcare sector and as the core-team member of a leading travel/transportation start-up in North East India. Prior to joining Hi5, Geet has also worked as a theatre activist thriving to bring change by creating awareness on various social-political issues. He has been an active sports person since school and has represented respective teams in various district, state and school level Basketball tournaments. In his leisure time, he likes to swim, trek and explore the rough terrains of Himalayas.
Vignesh Iyer
Technical Head – Systems & Training
When I came to junior college, I was hooked to the game. I only played basketball the entirety of 11th grade. In fact, I chose
Read MoreVignesh Iyer
Technical Head – Systems & TrainingWhen I came to junior college, I was hooked to the game. I only played basketball the entirety of 11th grade. In fact, I chose to pursue Commerce because everyone around me discouraged pursuing Science because I would then have to study a lot and wouldn’t have been able to play basketball at all! My parents didn’t restrict me for anything really because I would scrape average marks even if I was playing basketball all day. As long as I was doing well and good work, they were happy with me. There is an NBA player, Steph Curry, who is my all-time favourite basketball player. Watching him play is how I have learned a lot about basketball as a game. Before I had watched him, I didn’t even know that something like a 3-pointer existed!
When I was in my first year of college, I had coached at a private organization but they were not serious about coaching so I got very disinterested in it. But I didn’t want to quit basketball and I got introduced to Hi5 through Ramu Sir at the same time. I never thought this would become by full-time job when I joined but the more time passed, the more I was attracted to becoming a coach to these kids. Because they’re brilliant, these BMC kids are way responsive when compared to other privileged international schools and even better than the BMC school kids are the children from the tribal school in Vajreshwari!
Kevin Francis
Technical Head
Even though I was passionate about the game, my parents didn’t support the idea of playing basketball professionally as a career.
Read MoreKevin Francis
Technical HeadEven though I was passionate about the game, my parents didn’t support the idea of playing basketball professionally as a career. In fact, when I was young, they didn’t even know I played basketball for those many insane hours! Academically, I studied engineering and sought a job in my field itself later. Although I didn’t find a job that was well paying and according to my requirements. I even tried my hand at entrepreneurship but it didn’t work out.
I never stopped playing though and one day, when I was playing at a center close to my house, Mr. Lohe from the BMC saw me coaching other players and approached me to coach students part-time. Initially, I refused because I didn’t see myself as a coach. I didn’t think it was something I’d be good at. But after sometime, I tried it and loved every bit of it!
When I got introduced to Hi5, it was a blessing! Their curriculum approach to coaching basketball showed that they were serious about coaching. They also invested time in teaching the coaches and giving them a support system that enables them to do better. I am now a part of testing and designing the curriculum as well as coordinating with other coaches. We measure everybody’s performance on a common scale and method.
This is now my full-time career considering we’ve been successful and are scaling. Plus teaching these kids is a joy. They are aware of this opportunity presented to them and learn the sport seriously. I am happy that I am finally doing something I think I was meant to do. As a coach, I get the respect and I also get to do play basketball every day, my vision matches with the leadership, what more can I ask? This is like a dream job for me!
Staff
Arpan Ghole
Manager – Pathways Program
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Arpan Ghole
Manager – Pathways ProgramMy name is Arpan Ghole. I completed my MBA in marketing from D.Y.Patil college in 2013. I have experience of 7 years in marketing in various Ed-tech companies. I choose the education industry as a career because I feel education is a gift that changes lives forever.
Hi5 is even a step forward with giving equal importance to education as well as sports in the lives of underprivileged students.
Talking about my hobbies ,I love travelling and trekking alot.
Vishal Khare
Manager – Pathways Program
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Vishal Khare
Manager – Pathways ProgramVishal holds a Bachelor’s as well as Master’s degree in Social Work and has been working in this sector, with young children attending to various issues. He chose to start working with Hi5 because Hi5 works differently with underprivileged children as they’re using the game of basketball to increase their quality of life. They are giving them life skills education and the students have visibly changed. He appreciate that because social work has different strategies to work with children and using basketball is a great medium to interact with them and make a difference. Vishal believes there are many kids who do well in sports don’t have the opportunity to develop themselves. He hopes to motivate them and make them realise the importance of sports and empower them to do better through this work.
Harshada Shinde
Manager – Finance
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Harshada Shinde
Manager – FinanceHarshada works with Hi5 in the capacity of an accountant & office administrator. She has always wanted to extend her professional efforts in an NGO since her childhood so she chose to work with Hi5 because she believes the organisation is brightening the lives of underprivileged children and secure their future by training them in basketball. She believes that basketball can be played by anyone in many different ways; playing basketball builds friendships and connections on and off the court and playing as a team is the only way to succeed and win. Sportsmanship and having a good attitude makes playing the game enjoyable!
Shubhangi Shinde
Manager – MIS
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Shubhangi Shinde
Manager – MISShubhangi was an accountant/data coordinator before joining Hi5 in 2018 as a data coordinator. Apart from work, she likes to read books in her free time.
Asfa Siddiqui
Manager – Pathways Program
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Asfa Siddiqui
Manager – Pathways ProgramAsfa Siddiqui is a postgraduate in management from Institute of Management Technology . Achieved 10 years of working experience in the social development sector with great success. Managed cross-functional team through several large projects. Closely worked with children in education, skills to livelihood programs & Health and sanitation.
Saneej Patil
Manager – Operations & Program delivery
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Saneej Patil
Manager – Operations & Program deliveryI started my basketball journey when I was in 5th grade, my first thought about the game was just an activity of 2 hours but within the first 2 years I played my first U13 state championship from Thane district and from there I never looked back. I overall played 4 state championships and 2 school state championships. In my first year in college I met with an accident in 2013 and my wrist got dislocated. I was advised by physio to not play basketball at all, but luckily my coach gave me the opportunity to become coach at club level at AVS basketball club in Dombivali, from here my coaching journey began. I always used to think about my injury but daily coaching with my students gave me confidence even if I can't play Basketball but watching my students playing basketball always gave me another level of satisfaction. Later I completed my college and I started working as a safety ENGINEER in an MNC company for 2 years but I was not satisfied with the job. One of my Best friends and Hi5 coach Pawan informed me about Hi5 Youth foundation but I was confused about shifting my career, still I took the chance and I told my parents about the new opportunity. They being both PE teachers in BMC school, they supported me and I finally made the decision to join Hi5 as a ‘Center Coach’ for Hi5 at Sant Gadge Maharaj Ashram Shala, Vajreshwari . Within 1.5 years at Vajreshwari 17 children played for the district and won 4 tournaments that year. Due to this I got the opportunity and I was promoted to Operations manager for mumbai central and Gujarat region. Today I look after 10 centers and am proud to say that I am part of the HI5 family.
Coaches
Narayan Jadhav
Senior Coach
Read MoreNarayan Jadhav
Senior CoachI am from Nanded and came to Mumbai to live here far away from my family, only for basketball! In our town, wrestling, kabaddi, volleyball and cricket were popular. My brother himself is a national-level wrestler. So, basketball wasn’t something we had heard of much. I started playing basketball just for fun and within two months I went to play a tournament!
I’ve played until national camp several times, from under-14, under-16, under-17 but unfortunately didn’t make it to the national team. So, during my under-16 tryouts, I got my younger brother introduced to Basketball. I coached him quite vigorously I think, I was quite hard on him. He was 11 when he won the first gold medal for his national team performance playing for Maharashtra! I was 11 when I started.
My brother dreamt that I would eventually join the Sports Authority of India and I did. I got an international platform there and started playing nationally. A few years later, I eventually decided not to continue to play professionally and came to Bombay to further my career in coaching. I started going to college to complete my graduation and then do a physical education degree. Coaching is quite messy in Mumbai; schools just wanted us to entertain the kids for an hour instead of teaching them. Once I met Ramu Sir, everything changed and I feel like all this effort I have made in my basketball career, I can finally put to use and coach honestly at Hi5! In fact, I have improved immensely after joining Hi5 and that’s humbling!
Edward Paul
Senior Coach
Read MoreEdward Paul
Senior CoachI was Introduced to the game of basketball back in my school(LourdesHigh School). Being an Alter Server In Church(Our Lady Of Lourdes Church)I used to go early in school/Church where I used to find big boys playing basketball with passion.
That time I used to play football from school team but I don't know the feeling for this game was different I don't know what it was but it was way different feeling from everything.
I requested My school basketball coach can I join for the practice? He answered "Go and Join That Line" and from there the journey begins in the field of basketball for me.
Since Childhood I always looked how Priests create good vibes of being good human being the culture of caring sharing and accepting nothing in return.So Even I wanted to be someone who influence someone same as Priests do.
Time when I just completed my Third Year in college I got call from one of senior(where I used to play in a club Indian Gymkhana) Vignesh Iyer He asked "would you like to coach basketball to underprivileged kids?" AND my answer was "It will be my Privilege".So Deendayal Upadhaya BMC School In Mulund was that center where I was assigned to do so.
Basketball not only teached me how play the game of basketball but it teached lot more beyond that how to be good person, how to be a leader, how to care, how to share,how to be responsible, being humble & kind.
Opportunities is the place where we lack in India "Changing Young Life Through The game of Basketball" giving Opportunities to underprivileged kids all appreciation goes to R.SUNDAR SIR & USHA MA'AM for the initiative of Hi-5 Youth Foundation.
Snehil Mahajan
Coach
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CoachAfter completing his 12th, Snehil learnt animation at Kalyan. For the past 9 years he has been coaching basketball. Before joining Hi5 Youth Foundation in 2018, he has coached children at various schools such Podar International (Kalyan), Vidyaniketan (Dombivali), AVS Dombivali, St. Theresa (Dombivali) & Sister Nivedita (Dombivali). Currently he coaches basketball to the children at Hi5’s tribal residential school in Vajreshwari.
Mukesh Tiwari
Coach
Read MoreMukesh Tiwari
CoachMy elder brother, Rakesh, is a national-level hockey player and my journey with sports began with him. I played basketball for the first time in Agra in school. I also played cricket, hockey, and basketball all at once and didn’t have time to study at all!
I came to Bombay hoping to secure a Railways job. It didn’t work out and I started looking for coaching jobs in basketball because it was taught in international schools. Through this social circle, I was introduced to Lohe Sir from the BMC and he took me under his wing. So, before I joined Hi5 I had been coaching in BMC schools for nearly 7-8 years.
I am absolutely passionate about the game because it promotes teamwork. When I coach basketball to young kids, that’s the first plus point I see in them. They develop an attitude to work in a group and play for their team instead of themselves. There is no discrimination in the game according to me, everybody has a role and is treated equally in the game. But, the sport doesn’t get its due, like many other sports that are incredible games but aren’t highlighted by the media. There is so much hype around cricket that no one even knows if a hockey championship is ongoing. The media would rather write about the love lives of cricketers than write about other sports and games. There’s also no money in basketball. All the money goes to cricket federations, then how will players move up the ladder?
Krishnendu Pradhan
Coach
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CoachKrishnendu has been connected with sports for a long time. He has participated in various district and state level tournaments in Kho kho & Basketball. Krishnendu finished Bachelors in Physical Education from Jadavpur University. Before joining Hi5 as a coach, he was a physical education teacher at Calcutta Public School. He is currently the Basketball coach for the children at Hi5's Parivaar residential institutions
Digvijay Singh
Coach
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CoachDigvijay Singh and enjoy all forms of sports. He started Taekwondo and Swimming at the age of 5 and later started playing cricket for Odisha and Bengal, but it was basketball which got him recognition from Kolkata University, Burdwan University, Paradeep port trust and different clubs in Kolkata. Basketball taught him coordination, agility and importance of team building brick by brick, and helped him make friends for life.
Basketball coaching came to him naturally as he used to coach his juniors during playing days. Basketball gave him an opportunity to join Indian Army and he played basketball for the team there also. Prior to joining Hi5, he was working at Apeejay park Street Kolkata and Army public school as physical education teacher cum Basketball coach.