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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R Sundar
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.
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Usha 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.
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P 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
Regional Head -Operations
Anshul Jain is a sports management professional with 6+ years of experience in grassroots sports and coach training. Prior to Hi5,
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Anshul Jain
Regional 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.
Mayur Pateria
Manager - CSR & Partner Programs
Mayur Pateria brings 7+ years of management experience in various domains including in an affordable ed-tech initiative and as a core founding team
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Mayur Pateria
Manager - CSR & Partner ProgramsMayur Pateria brings 7+ years of management experience in various domains including in an affordable ed-tech initiative and as a core founding team member of an art exchange portal. Mayur holds a Masters degree in Strategic Management from Leeds Beckett University,UK and an post graduate diploma in Culture and Media Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. His core skills lies in process designing and he has a deep love for Adobe Creative Suites. He has been an active player on the Volleyball court in college, and also takes interest in hiking and arts. Mayur has worked with 3000+ children on career orientation programs across Maharashtra.
Gurpreet Somal
Manager - Comunications & Marketing (India & USA)
Gurpreet Somal is a published writer & poet and a social impact sector communications professional with over 10+ years of diverse experience.
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Gurpreet Somal
Manager - Comunications & Marketing (India & USA)Gurpreet Somal is a published writer & poet and a social impact sector communications professional with 10+ years of diverse experience. With a Masters (Scholarship) in International Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University in the UK, she strongly emphasizes on creative communications meeting innovative philanthropy.
Prior to joining Hi 5 Youth Foundation's leadership team, Gurpreet co-authored a poetry book (as part of a global collaborative project) and worked with celebrity management & animal rescues. Besides completing a prestigious Performing Arts workshop with Ron Burrus (a world-renowned communications coach), she has worked with a film production house for two feature films and taught English & Social Sciences in a tribal village called Ambatha. As part of her Masters dissertation, she directed a short film on the Mumbai Terror attacks and the role of responsible reportage in Indian journalism. During her graduating years, Gurpreet was also the Organising Committee President at AIESEC, where she ran her own project called 'Genesis' - where she facilitated key symbiotic partnerships between NGOs & CSR portfolios of companies, as well as created public awareness on sustainable development and grassroot problems.
In her free time she likes to learn French & Spanish, read science fiction & self-development books, indulge in photography, watch thought-provoking cinema and write on diverse topics.
Geet Gera
Manager – Systems & 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
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Geet Gera
Manager – Systems & 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.
Staff
Jayanti Nadkarni
Supervisor
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Jayanti Nadkarni
Supervisor Jayanti is a supervisor at all western centers of Hi5. She is a fun loving person, her smile lights up every child in Hi5. She is very professional and caring towards children, which brings up the energy and the confidence of the latter. She has been a basketball player since childhood and has played at school and university level matches. For her working with Hi5 and the girls especially is her dream come true. She feels blessed to have been given this opportunity and loves to share her knowledge and wisdom with the kids. She dreams of Hi5 children playing on a national level representing India and making the country proud. She is especially attached to the Hi5 girls and wants them to work hard and see them at an Asia level or Olympics.Vishal Khare
Central Coordinator
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Vishal Khare
Central CoordinatorVishal 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.
Ravi Patil
Sports Co-ordinator
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Ravi Patil
Sports Co-ordinatorRavi has been a part of Hi5, right from its inception. According to him, Hi5 Youth Foundation is different from other organizations as it doesn’t aim to change the society at once but rather adopts a continuous approach for bringing about long term change. He believes in the power of sports and its success in creating a positive impact on the society.
Vinod Mhaske
Sports Co-ordinator
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Vinod Mhaske
Sports Co-ordinatorVinod Mhaske is a M.Sc graduate from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Post college, he started a free coaching centre for rural youth groups in his home-town and also was an active member of Light of Life Trust where he worked on two projects - Anando & SFSEP. He is passionate about education and has dedicated his life to counseling children and teaching them values and life lessons.
Komal Dhoble
Sports Co-ordinator
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Komal Dhoble
Sports Co-ordinatorKomal credits her management and planning skills to her learnings at her recent undergraduate education in social work. She likes working with children and help them develop necessary skills. She hopes one day she can change the society’s behavior and their thinking towards humanity as a whole. Komal believes in teamwork and hopes to excel at Hi5. Komal herself comes from an underprivileged background and believes her honest work will take her places!
Sunil Varganti
Sports Co-ordinator
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Sunil Varganti
Sports Co-ordinatorSunil Verganti is a certified social worker from Nirmal Niketan College of Social Work. Prior to Hi5, Sunil has worked as Training and Monitoring Officer for Magic Bus India Foundation as part of their livelihood programs. He has on-field experience of working with disadvantaged youth along with Ernst & Young Foundation. In addition to this, Sunil has also volunteered for Vikas Santha and Janta Jagruti Manch for more than five years, serving children & youth groups, providing them with livelihood training, education and scholarships.
Anil Yadav
Admin
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Anil Yadav
AdminAnil is the backbone of our everyday operations at the office! He is Hi5’s go-to guy for office-level administrative problem-solving. He helps in managing the office and keeping it presentable and resourceful for all our visitors. Anil believes in Hi5 as an organisation and loves working in an our environment where everybody is treated with love and respect!
Harshada Shinde
Admin
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Harshada Shinde
AdminHarshada 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!
Coaches
Vignesh Iyer
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Vignesh Iyer
Senior Coach, WadalaWhen 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
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Kevin Francis
Senior Coach, Motilal Nagar, Unnat Nagar, Curriculum supervisorEven 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!
Arafaat Memon
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Arafaat Memon
Beginner coaching - Baradevi Sewri Assist coach - Dixit Road,Vile Parle Intermediate coaching - Pahadi, GoregaonI was very young when I was introduced to basketball. I started playing when I was 7, in Nagpada near Mastan YMCA. Every child who belongs to that area only knows how to eat, breathe, and sleep basketball! It’s free, which makes a lot of difference for young talent to grow and flourish. I have given a lot of years to the game and come with the knowledge too. I used to play from Mumbai South-East area at the district level and then played state finals for Maharashtra. I was also selected for the Indian team camp in the Under-16 category, but couldn’t make it to the national team.
Basketball is a very under-represented and unpopular sport in India. Here, people only have cricket on their minds. Even at a federation and government level, basketball is given zero importance. I believe I would have been more motivated to pursue a career in basketball if the infrastructure and resources for the game existed.
But life makes it turns and I got introduced to coaching when I was 18. I’ve worked at different schools and organisations in Mumbai to train school-going kids but none of them were satisfying jobs. They had a lot of restrictions and would change coaches for the teams constantly in the fear that the coach might start privately coaching them. I joined Hi5 primarily because their philosophy matches with mine—teach one team fully and take them to win a tournament.
Coaching at Hi5 is rewarding in so many ways. I get to teach children who don’t have the opportunity otherwise and don’t come with any air about themselves. They’re genuinely interested in the game and I can see how much they’ve improved. When they come running to me with a loud, “Sir, sir!” after winning a match, it’s a different feeling of proud altogether!
Narayan Jadhav
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Narayan Jadhav
Coach, Dixit Road, DN NagarI 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!
Saneej Patil
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Saneej Patil
Saneej started playing basketball at the age of 10 at AVS club in Dombivali. His parents being national level athletes, they enrolled him in basketball as they wanted him to get more involved in sport. Throughout his basketball career, he has played from 3 districts (Thane – 2, Raigad – 1), and also played netball for one district. During college he met his basketball coach – Akash Waghmare (now colleague at Hi 5), who suggested assisting him in a coaching program at the college. That’s where his journey as a basketball coach began. Nearly 2 years later, he left his private sector job after his friend Edward (also a coach Hi 5) convinced him to be part of Hi 5. Soon after, his journey has now taken him to Vajreshwari -Hi5’s tribal residential school center.
Snehil Mahajan
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Snehil Mahajan
After 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.
Sachin Pardeshi
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Sachin Pardeshi
After completing his B.P.Ed, M.P.Ed and certification at NIS, Sachin has gathered more than 6+ years of experience as a basketball coach. Currently a coach at Hi5’s DN Nagar center, in the past he has been a player in SAI, and has also played Junior State level, Senior State level, Inter-University matches, Ashwamedh matches & All-India Inter-SAI matches. Besides basketball, he has also played State level boxing matches.
Edward Paul
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Edward Paul
Coach, DD MulundI 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.
Akash Waghmare
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Akash Waghmare
Coach Hailing from an engineering background, Akash always had an interest in basketball and started playing at a very young age of 12 years. He is passionate about the game - lives and breathes basketball. Akash has worked in 2-3 companies and he is extremely happy to be part of Hi5 now. He believes Hi5 is a unique NGO, which works for the welfare of kids through sports. He believes the kids from big schools just play to pass time while the kids under the Hi5 regime are brilliant and understand the value of the sport. He feels Hi5 children will pursue basketball as long time career. He has a vision that there will be a rise of basketball in India and soon there will a league dedicated to basketball hailing in India. Akash loves to coach the kids as they are extremely interested in the sport and are quite serious about their practice even in scorching heat. Someday he wants to see the Hi5 kids drafted in the NBA India program.Mukesh Tiwari
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Mukesh Tiwari
Coach, Motilal NagarMy 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?
Pawankumar Sannake
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Pawankumar Sannake
ManagementPawan started playing at the age of 7 when he first got introduced to basketball at AVS club at Dombivli by the age of 9 he then got a place in team of U/14 category. Throughout his basketball career heparticipated in 6 inter district championship 5 for thane district & 1 for Mumbaicentral but couldn’tmake it through state team. During a match for U/18 category he had an injuryand was asked to rest. But he couldn’t resist himself going on to the field and started coaching 4thStd children nearby. He was introducedto Hi5via one of the other coach at Gymkahana and his good friend Edward, and he started his professional coaching career with Hi5. He truly enjoys coachingchildrenon basketball and is proud of being representedas Hi5 coach.