STUDENTS OF SYMBIOSIS INSTITUTE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION AND NETAJI SC BOSE MADHYAMIK VIDYALAYA IN YERWADA, REVITALIZED UNDER THE SUPPORT MY SCHOOL CAMPAIGN, COME TOGETHER FOR PAINTING WORKSHOP
Students of Symbiosis Institute Of Media And Communication (SIMC) to sell paintings created at the workshop at their annual festival, Fest-O-Comm
The Netaji SC Bose Madhyamik Vidyalaya has been revitalized under Season 1 of Support My School with facilities such as a separate toilet for boys and girls, improved access to water, promotion of physical sports and recreation, a greener environment and a structure for rain water harvesting
100 schools in rural and semi-urban areas, across 10 states, revitalized in Season 1 of Support My School, touching the lives of over 43,000 students. Campaign has helped reduce absenteeism and increase enrollment in the revitalized schools, especially amongst girls
Support My School Telethon scheduled for 3rd February 2013 to raise funds for Season 2 of the campaign to extend benefits to 250 more schools
Pune, January 22, 2013 – Students from Symbiosis Institute Of Media And Communication, Pune (SIMC-P) and the children of Netaji SC Bose Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Yerwada, Pune came together to portray their dreams on canvas at the “Paint Your Dream” workshop held at the school. The workshop is part of a larger program to create awareness about the Coca-Cola NDTV Support My School Campaign which will soon be raising funds for Season 2 of the campaign. The Support My School Telethon, to be help in Mumbai on 3rd February, 2013 will be a 12 hour LIVE event aired on all NDTV Channels to raise pledges for revitalization work of 250 more schools in this season.
Kick-starting the day on an energetic note, students from SIMC-P and the Netaji SC Bose Madhyamik Vidyalaya came together for a cricket match before the workshop. The “Paint Your Dream” workshops are being conducted at various schools that were revitalised under Season 1 of the Support My School campaign, across the country. The underlying premise behind these workshops is to highlight the fact that all children are naturally creative; and with the right tools and encouragement to express their unlimited imagination they will bring their ideas to life and will accomplish great deeds.
Students from Symbiosis Institute of Media And Communication Pune (SIMC-P) will be contributing towards the campaign by selling paintings created at the workshop at their annual festival, Fest-O-Comm, scheduled to be held on 15th, 16th and 17th February 2013. All proceeds raised from the sale will be donated towards revitalization work in Season 2 of the Support My School campaign.
With facilities such as a separate toilet for boys and girls, improved access to water, promotion of physical sports and recreation, a greener environment and a structure for rain water harvesting, the Netaji SC Bose Madhyamik Vidyalaya has been revitalized under the Support My School campaign.
Speaking about the event, Ms. Neelima Khetan, General Manager- CSR, Coca-Cola India said, “The youth support received by Support My School has been overwhelming. It is moving to see the number of students who have come forward to contribute in new and innovative ways towards the campaign. I am delighted to see students from Symbiosis at the ‘Paint Your Dream’ event. We believe that children deserve every incentive to envision their future and make it a reality. This campaign has brought together the capacities of varied corporate houses and NGOs to create happy and healthy environments, conducive to learning. With the Support My School Telethon, scheduled for 3rd February, we are confident of enlisting support from more such groups to raise funds for Season 2 of the campaign.”
Launched in January 2011, the Support My School campaign has witnessed enthusiastic participation from a variety of groups, individuals and organizations over the last 2 years. Students from across the country have consistently come forth to contribute in their own way and further encourage children to stay in school and attain education.
Speaking at the event, Rippal Bhandari, Student, Symbiosis Institute of Communication Pune, Symbiosis International University, Pune said, “Events such as the “Paint Your Dream” workshop help these school students to truly envision their dreams for the future. Moreover, initiatives like Support My School are catalysts to help them believe in the tangibility of these dreams. It was truly a great experience to be able to participate in the workshop with these young school children and share their enthusiasm and optimism for the future. It truly encourages us to work for our annual fest Fest-o-Comm and indulge in such great tie-ups and collaborations. These kids invigorate us, increasing our enthusiasm and optimism. I congratulate Coca-Cola and all the campaign partners who have made this campaign such a huge success and wish them all luck for the upcoming Support My School Telethon.”
About Support My School
Coca-Cola joined hands with NDTV to launch Support My School in association with UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), Pearson Foundation, Tata Teleservices and Sulabh International. It undertakes the following core activities as part of the campaign:
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
Recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting
Libraries and Teacher Training by Pearson Foundation
Computer Center by Tata Teleservices
With such necessary amenities in place, schools are able to provide a cleaner and healthier environment more conducive to learning.
The Support My School campaign achieved the milestone of completing revitalization in 100 schools in June, 2012. Significant impact of the campaign can be noted in the reduced absenteeism and increased enrolment in the schools. Its many accomplishments also include the widespread support it has been able to get from a variety of stakeholders including students, the corporate sector, NGOs, celebrities as well as individuals across the country and abroad. Education in rural India suffers from several issues where lack of sanitation is a key reason for absenteeism and dropouts amongst students. This is especially noted in young girls who are forced to quit as they enter adolescence due to a lack of clean and functional toilets. Children are also likely to fall sick more often without clean water to drink or to wash hands. Support My School endeavours to eliminate this basic concern by spreading the initiative across the country with the help of campaign partners to execute the same.
About Coca-Cola and Citizenship
The Coca-Cola Company has always placed high value on good citizenship. At the heart of business is a mission statement called the Coca-Cola Promise — “The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone that it touches.” This basic proposition means – that the company’s business should refresh the markets, protect, preserve and enhance the environment and strengthen the community. Coca-Cola India provides extensive support for community programs across the country, with a focus on education, health and water conservation. For further information on Company’s India operations and its products, please visit www.coca-colaindia.com
For further queries please contact: Tanushree Mandal: 8860844839, Akanksha Seth: 9873333061