“Hello, I am Shaun, I create hope” is what greets you when you click on the website, www crossover-india.org. 

And that is exactly what Belmont resident Shaun Jayachandran, founder of Crossover Basketball and Scholars Academy hopes to achieve this summer in Chennai, India. Inspired by a totally unique social enterprise idea of combining hoops with hope, Jayachandran’s Academy has one single objective - of using the game of basketball as a segue to educational achievement.

To begin with, in August of this year a two week overnight basketball and scholastic camp for kids in the age group of 9-16 is offered free to every student who wishes to learn the game. The camp in Chennai is open to all school going children irrespective of their social and economic status. Curriculum for the course is designed on the legendary coach John Wooden and Lefty Driesell coaching trees as well as Jayachandran own educational expertise as a Science teacher and a coach.

Ten basketball coaches including a couple from Harvard and five educators from the US and Europe will be traveling to India to run this Academy. The Academy has also approached local coaches and volunteers to run this camp. The curriculum is designed such that it will enhance academic learning and knowledge of the game –  Students will be divided into two sessions - One half will attend classes in English, Science and Math and the other half will learn the game through coaching techniques, calisthenics, nutrition advice, and ground play. The biggest challenge for Jayachandran has been funding the Academy. He has approached various local communities and applied for grants to raise funds and has plans to host a March madness event in mid-March for donations.To know more about the event click here http://crossoverbball.eventbrite.com/

Jayachandran’s vision of developing this into a comprehensive program in the future is not without cause. Research suggests that participation in sports helps children to succeed in school.  Numerous studies have identified a strong link between student participation in athletics to subsequent graduation from college given the right type of learning and environment.

 By creating an environment that combines basketball, education, and leadership development, Crossover Academy hopes to emphasize education on the court as well as the classroom through the medium of sport.

The whole idea is new to a country like India where many nonprofits focus on education in schools without any athletic engagement. Jayachandran believes that sports can have a great influence on a student’s life learning skills. Through the academy he hopes to help students and athletes acquire qualities such as "work ethic, team play, hard work and time management.  “From my perspective, those qualities are as important as anything you learn in a classroom” says Jayachandran

Jayachandran earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the George Washington University and a master’s degree in Catholic school education leadership from Marymount University in Virginia. He presently has a full-time job as chair of the science department at Nativity Preparatory School in Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Interestingly enough, in his early years it was soccer that drew his interest, not basketball. But while a freshman in  high school in Washington DC , he developed an interest in the game that soon became his passion.

Jayachandran says his decision to launch the program in India came from his own experience and the support and resources he received from his parents who hail originally from Chennai. His goal is to help students in India develop to their full potential - and beyond. “I wanted to give kids in India the opportunity to choose," he explained, "You do something for the right reasons but don't know what it's going to lead to...the idea is not just to develop exceptional basketball  players of good academic standing but to bring about change and build future leaders of tomorrow .

For more information about the Crossover Basketball and Scholars Academy, please visit http://www.crossover-india.org

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