Laureus Academy member and cricketing legend Steve Waugh visits magic bus in Mumbai

Mumbai: Legendary cricket star and Laureus Academy member, Steve Waugh was in Mumbai today to visit the Magic Bus project– a strategic partner of the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation.


Magic Bus, an Indian NGO working with underprivileged children to make sure they move out of poverty. Magic Bus has received funding from Laureus since its inauguration and has been a strategic partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation for five years. Magic Bus currently operates in 19 states around India impacting over 250,000 young people with the ambition of reaching 1 million participants by 2017.


The great success achieved by Magic Bus has been recognised at the last 2014 Laureus World Sports Awards with the presentation of the Laureus Sport for Good Award.


Steve Waugh along with Magic Bus founder Matthew Spacie unveiled the Laureus Pavillion at the Magic Bus Centre for Learning and Development located in Village Aasrewadi near Karjat.


This was followed by a visit to the Bombay Port Trust (BPT) community project where Steve Waugh met and interacted with the students and members of the local community.


Speaking on the occasion, Steve Waugh said, “As a representative of the Laureus Academy, it gives me a great sense of pride to be associated with Magic Bus. The work they are doing for young children is actually realising our vision of using sports to lead change and enhance their quality of life. I am humbled by visiting the project sites and would like to offer my heartiest congratulations to Mathew and his team for doing such a great job.”


Matthew Spacie, Founder of Magic Bus added, “Magic Bus’ work has grown to 18 States of India in the last fifteen years, covering 250,000 children and 8000 young people from marginalised communities. This would not have bene possible without supporters like Laureus and we want to thank Laureus and Steve for this strong support.”


Magic Bus, founded by Englishman Matthew Spacie and based in Mumbai, aims to take children out of poverty through a programme of mentoring and coaching. Since 2001, the Magic Bus programme has grown to embrace over 250,000 children in 18 states each week and Spacie’s ambition now is to reach out to one million children by 2017.