BENGALURU, February 28, 2026 – In a powerful display of collaboration for the future of education, the creative not-for-profit trust Going to School, in partnership with the Government of Karnataka, Oracle, BT Group, the British Asian Trust, and Bengaluru FC, officially kicked off Match Day 2026. The event, held at the Jay Prakash Narayan Sports Ground in JP Nagar, brought together over 2,000 girls and boys from 18 government schools for a high-energy day of sports, technology, and climate action.
A New Vision for the “Outdoor School”
Match Day serves as the flagship celebration for The Outdoor School for Girls, a program established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Karnataka. The initiative is designed to bring dynamic, future-ready skills to students in Grades 5-10. By integrating digital literacy, STEM, and sustainable entrepreneurial skills into the standard curriculum, the program ensures that young girls have the tools they need to transition from grade to grade and eventually leap from the classroom into the green economy.
Through a unique blend of design-driven stories, interactive games, and football, the program encourages young people to solve for climate change by creating sustainable startups and accessing new “green jobs” within their cities.
Technology Meets the Pitch
The event transformed the sports ground into a “pink and green” arena of learning. The day began with an interactive Q&A session where leaders from Oracle, BT, and Bengaluru FC took to the stage to answer questions from the students. Following the opening, the “Game On: Climate Change Games” commenced, featuring:
- Coding Challenges: In nine dedicated tents, 100 volunteers from Oracle and BT Group led hands-on sessions. Students utilized AI to build calculators and designed digital quizzes focused on smart city solutions.
- Football Clinics: Every 15 minutes, 36 teams rotated from the coding tents to the pitch, where coaches from Bengaluru FC and players from the Bengaluru FC women’s team led mini-matches and drills.
- Gamified Learning: Two giant leaderboards and a live DJ kept the energy high as teams competed for points, blending physical activity with digital problem-solving.
Sustainability in Action
Practicing what it preaches, Match Day 2026 was a strictly zero-plastic event. To reinforce climate action messaging, a sustainable, locally sourced lunch was served on traditional leaf plates. This commitment to environmental stewardship was integrated into every aspect of the venue, providing a real-world example of the sustainable enterprises the students are being trained to lead.
Leadership Perspectives
Ian McBride, Head of Social Impact, BT Group India, emphasized the importance of corporate volunteerism:
“BT’s long-standing partnership with Going to School is a source of great pride and real joy for our volunteers. By contributing their professional skills to The Outdoor School, they help bring digital inclusion to scale through the power of sport, fulfilling our ambition to provide digital access for all.”
Lisa Heydlauff, CEO of Going to School, highlighted the holistic nature of the program:
“Match Day is about figuring out how we play together when life skills, AI, football, and climate change all come out to play at the same time. We want these girls to complete school and dare to become city-changing entrepreneurs. We are over the moon to have the unwavering support of the Government of Karnataka and our corporate partners to make this vision a reality.”
Expanding the Horizon
The Outdoor School for Girls currently operates in Bengaluru and Raichur, North Karnataka. However, the impact is set to grow significantly. Under the existing MOU, the project is scheduled to expand into five rural districts across Karnataka over the next three years, ensuring that the fusion of sport and STEM reaches the state’s most remote areas.
About the Partners
- Going to School: A creative non-profit trust that creates design-driven stories and games to equip children with the skills to solve for climate change.
- BT Group: The UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications, committed to driving global digital inclusion.
- Bengaluru FC: A premier professional football club that utilizes the “great game” to drive social change and inclusion.
British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.bt.com/about
![New Delhi [India], January 9: Visually impaired cricketer and captain of Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy on Tuesday was conferred with Prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous three years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket) is among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2023. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports last month had announced the National Sports Awards 2023. The nominated stars received their awards from the President of India. “I am overwhelmed with this recognition. I dedicate this award to my Parents and Family members for their support. I also would like to thank Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and all the players with whom I have played,” Ajay Reddy said in a statement. Congratulating Arjuna awardee Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman- Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said “It is an honour and proud moment for all the blind cricketers across the world. It is the good recognition for the hard work and dedication in taking Cricket for the Blind to the next level through various achievements by the Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the blind under the leadership of Ajay Reddy. CABI is happy that cricket for the blind is getting the recognition with other major sports.” Following the Award ceremony, Illuri Ajay Reddy, the chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar and CABI secretary Shailender Yadav also met Indian pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami is also among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award on Tuesday. Illuri Ajay Reddy is currently working in SBI regional office in Bangalore. He is a B2 category player, who is representing India since 2010. He has been part of winning two ODI World Cups, 3 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup. Ajay is the captain of the Indian cricket team for the blind since 2016. Under his captaincy Team India has won 1 ODI world cup, 2 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup and the Silver Medal in IBSA World Games and many bilateral and triangular Series. Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) acknowledges the great support received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports through this award. The continuous support and patronage received from the esteemed ministry has helped CABI to achieve this milestone.](https://thisweekindia.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Arjuna-Award-to-Ajay-Kumar-Reddy-Captain-of-Indian-Blind-Cricket-Team-thisweekindia.png)
