Deepalaya – American Express Partnership
When Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the NGO Forum for Women, Beijing International Women’s Conference in 1995, amongst other things, she said, ‘…The education and empow
When Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the NGO Forum for Women, Beijing International Women’s Conference in 1995, amongst other things, she said, ‘…The education and empowerment of women cannot fail to result in a more caring, just and peaceful life for all.’ How true and relevant her words are, yet, our country continues to neglect this important aspect of societal development.
This is why Deepalaya and American Express came together to promote girl child education, especially of the ones from the socio-economically challenged background. Deepalaya – American Express partnership shall use FADA {Fathers and Daughters Alliance} as a strategy to strive towards a progressive and civilized society. FADA aims at educating girls at least up to the primary level by involving the fathers in the process as fathers remain the key decision makers in most Indian households and eventually garnering the fathers’ support in addressing girl child related issues like child marriage, dowry, girl child labour etc.
When Deepalaya formally launched FADA in September 2009, The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Shiela Dixit flagged off the program and a group of 22 out of school girls were enrolled for non formal education out of which 16 were mainstreamed into formal school in April 2010. With the help of Amex, Deepalaya has enrolled another 70 girl students, out of which 50 are enrolled in NFE and 20 in REC.
On a beautiful sunny morning at Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony, Okhla Phase II, the girl children who are direct beneficiaries of FADA and other students of Deepalaya School put up a lovely entertainment program for the benefit of the American Express team and other guests which included a fancy dress, folk dances, qawwali, Christmas carols etc. The children kept everyone enthralled with their cute antics and display of talent. The American Express team played Santa Claus and gifted the children with school bags and sweets. American Express has consistently supported Deepalaya students, not just financially but also in providing enriching experience to them by organizing trips to the Nehru Planetarium, Rashtrapati Bhavan, organizing tree plantation drives, health camps etc.
Rtn. T.K. Mathew of Deepalaya and Mr. Lalit Mallik of American Express addressed the gathering and stressed upon the long lasting benefits of girl child education in creating a progressive and fair society and requested the fathers to get involved and encourage the cause.
For decades, Deepalaya has been in the field of education and now Deepalaya- American Express partnership shall make inroads into women education, the benefits of will be reaped by the generations to come
About the Author
Ravi Pahuja
Noida
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