The journey with Parivaar began in late 2018, when the Hi 5 team visited their residential school in West Bengal. Founded by Padma Shri Vinayak Lohani, Parivaar runs residential institutions, catering to more than 3300 children from the most destitute, vulnerable and poor tribal backgrounds in Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. It lacked structured sports facilities, presenting Hi 5 with an opportunity to create meaningful impact. In 2019, Hi 5 partnered with Parivaar to launch its first center in Kolkata through the Hope Thru Hoops program.
The initiative quickly gained momentum. Inspired by Hi 5’s work, Anjali Tendulkar visited the center, leading to a collaboration with the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and the construction of a basketball court for girls. By 2022, children from Parivaar began to compete, and win, against elite teams in the Kolkata basketball league. Many were selected to represent West Bengal, a remarkable feat in such a short time.
Tournaments in other states exposed these children to a world previously unknown—first train rides, flights, overnight stays, and interaction with the national basketball community. For kids who had never stepped outside their villages, this was transformative and expanded their horizons. Playing for the Jr. NBA tournaments became a powerful validation: given the opportunity, these children could achieve greatness.
Impressed by the impact Hi 5 had created through these children, Parivaar’s founder, Vinayak Lohani invited Hi 5 to replicate the model at Parivaar’s new campus in Sandalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Children from highly impoverished tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh had never heard of basketball.
Creating change through sport takes time, patience and strong partnerships. From Parivaar to the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, committed collaborators have been crucial to the program’s growth. Boarding schools were key to providing a stable environment, enabling the program to thrive. Through shared belief and sustained support from the partners, Hi 5 continues to unlock potential—one child, one game at a time.
