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MUMBAI:
NDTV- Coca-Cola India along with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar
and campaign partners UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF),
Tata Teleservices, Pearson Foundation and Sulabh International,
today celebrated the completion of the 100th school under the ‘Support
My School’ initiative. Joining Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar
the campaign ambassador for the “NDTV- Coca-Cola Support My
School”, were NDTV Group CEO Vikram Chandra and Atul Singh,
President and CEO Coca-Cola India and South West Asia.
‘NDTV-
Coca-Cola Support My School’ campaign was initiated in January
2011 with a vision to address issues such as access to drinking
water, sanitation and infrastructure facilities in schools and to
create healthy, active and happy environment at schools. The campaign
has touched the lives of over 43,000 children across 10 states in
India, while helping to significantly reduce dropouts and absenteeism
and also increase enrolments in the revitalized schools.
On
the occasion, Campaign Ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar said, "This
is my first century away from cricket and a very happy one. I am
honored to be associated with this inspiring campaign that is committed
to provide the right infrastructure to keep children happy in schools.
Partnerships are always key to success and we have been able to
work together towards building better facilities and healthy school
environments. Reaching the milestone of the 100th revitalized school
is a proud and joyous occasion for us and I would like to congratulate
all our campaign partners for this wonderful achievement."
Speaking
about this, Mr. Vikram Chandra, Group CEO & Executive Director,
NDTV said, “The Support My School initiative has been a path
breaking one and has helped change the lives of more than 43,000
children. The response we have received from around the country
has been inspiring for all of us, and I thank all those who have
come forward. Special thanks, of course, to the Master himself -
Sachin Tendulkar! I would have never dreamt of playing cricket with
him.”
Speaking
at the event, Mr. Atul Singh, President and CEO, Coca-Cola India
and South West Asia, said, “Education is the basis of social
change. With the help of several partners and with Sachin leading
it from the front, we started the Support My School campaign last
year. We are pleased to have revitalized 100 schools so far, but
the mission has just begun. Every child has the right to go to school
and this is one movement where I urge everyone to join hands. We
would like to thank all our partners and donors, especially Sachin,
for his commitment and efforts throughout this campaign.”
Research
shows that inadequate infrastructure, especially sanitation, accelerates
the dropout rates, especially among girls in rural areas. ‘NDTV-
Coca-Cola Support My School’ is a unique mass movement that
attempts to sensitize people and give them an opportunity to make
a difference by contributing towards the transformation of schools.
The first phase of the campaign not only generated awareness about
such issues but also created 100 model schools spread across10 different
states by providing them with proper infrastructural and sanitation
facilities.
Elements
of the campaign include provision of improved access to water, appropriate
sanitation facilities for girls and boys, improvement in the overall
infrastructure and environment, provision for sports and recreation
facilities such as cricket, badminton & basketball courts, swings
etc and recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting. The
campaign tied up with partners such as Pearson Foundation who provided
library and teacher training facilities. Tata Teleservices also
joined the campaign through project learning, whereby computers
and internet services were installed in the schools covered under
the campaign.
Congratulating
Coca-Cola and the campaign partners, Principal, Priyadarshan School,
Mumbai, said, “We are proud to be the 100th school that has
been transformed under the ‘Support My School’ campaign.
This ground breaking initiative has paved the way for our children
to be active both physically and mentally and work towards achieving
their dreams. We are delighted to have Mr. Sachin Tendulkar and
Mr Atul Singh visiting our school on this occasion. Their interaction
with the children here was truly inspiring.”
Core
activities undertaken as a part of this campaign include:
·
Provision of improved access to water
·
Appropriate sanitation facility for girls and boys
·
Improvement in the overall infrastructure and environment
·
Provision for sports and recreation facilities and
·
Recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting
·
Libraries and Teacher Training- led by Pearson Foundation
·
Computer and Internet access- led by Tata Teleservices
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