5 August 2026
For most children, a football ground is a place to play and learn. But for the children of Mori village in Rajasthan, their football ground had slowly become an obstacle rather than an opportunity.
Every football session at Mori Football Ground came with the same challenge. The ground was overrun with gokhru (a thorny plant) that covered the playing surface. Their sharp thorns punctured footballs almost every day, forcing Young Leaders to spend time repairing damaged balls instead of mentoring children. Sessions were frequently interrupted, equipment wore out quickly, and the joy of playing football was overshadowed by constant frustration.
Yet, instead of accepting the problem, the community decided to act.
The first response didn’t come from machinery or funding, it came from the children themselves.
Together with OSCAR Foundation’s Young Leaders, they organised a community clean-up drive. Armed with determination, they spent hours pulling out the thorny plants, hoping to reclaim their playground. Their efforts reflected a powerful sense of ownership and responsibility for the space where they learned football and life skills.
However, the challenge proved bigger than expected.
The roots of the gokhru plants were deeply embedded in the soil. Despite everyone’s hard work, the thorns kept returning, making it clear that a lasting solution would require additional support.
Recognising that the issue needed a larger intervention, Coach Deepika stepped forward.
She met with the Village Sarpanch and explained how the thorny ground was affecting the programme, not only damaging footballs but also interrupting training, raising safety concerns for children, and reducing the overall quality of the sessions.
The response was immediate.
Understanding the importance of creating a safe space for children, the Gram Panchayat extended its support and approved resources to restore the football ground. What followed became an inspiring example of partnership between the community and local leadership.
With the Panchayat’s support, the ground was professionally cleared using a tractor, removing the thorny vegetation that manual efforts alone could not eliminate.
Throughout the restoration, Coach Deepika supervised the work while Young Leaders Manish and Sahil helped coordinate the process and ensured the work was completed effectively. Together, the community, Young Leaders, coach, and local administration demonstrated what is possible when everyone works toward a common goal.
Today, Mori Football Ground tells a different story.
Children can once again participate in uninterrupted football and life skills sessions on a safe playing surface. Footballs are no longer being punctured daily, reducing equipment repair costs and allowing Young Leaders to dedicate more time to coaching and mentoring. Most importantly, the restored ground has created a more enjoyable and motivating environment where children can learn, play, and grow with confidence.
The transformation of Mori Football Ground is about much more than removing thorny plants.
It is a story of children refusing to give up on their playground, Young Leaders taking responsibility for their community, a coach advocating for the needs of her participants, and local leadership responding with action.
When communities, young people, and local institutions come together, even everyday challenges can become opportunities for lasting change.
At OSCAR Foundation, we believe that quality sports spaces are essential for quality learning. Mori Football Ground now stands as a reminder that sustainable change begins when communities take ownership, and when every child is given a safe place to learn, play, and dream.