Matthew Spacie is a social entrepreneur and former rugby player dedicated to helping underprivileged children through sports and leadership training. He started his career in the travel industry in the UK but moved to India in 1986 to manage his company's operations. While in India, he developed a passion for rugby and played at the Bombay Gymkhana Club in Mumbai. His experiences with the sport made him aware of the challenges faced by street children, motivating him to create positive change in their lives.
In 1999, Matthew co-founded Magic Bus, an NGO aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged children through sports-based activities. He believed that sports could build confidence, communication, and leadership skills. He initially formed a rugby team for street children and tried to integrate them into the elite Bombay Gymkhana Club. However, early attempts to help older boys find jobs faced challenges related to work ethic and discipline.
Matthew remained committed to Magic Bus, securing funding and establishing it as a nonprofit. By 2007, Magic Bus was supporting over 4,500 young people and received significant backing from major philanthropies, including a $120,000 grant from the World Bank and UNICEF to expand its reach to 150,000 children.
Matthew's work has received international recognition, including an Ashoka Fellowship in 2002 and an MBE in 2007 for his services to children in the Commonwealth. Under his leadership, Magic Bus has grown to serve over 250,000 children across 10 Indian states, with a goal of reaching over 1 million by 2015. The organization focuses on education, health, gender rights, community systems, and employability skills.
Matthew's journey from rugby player to social entrepreneur highlights his dedication to using sports for community development and youth empowerment, inspiring others to do the same.
