Support My School initiative revitalises 500 schools

Around 1,000 schools to be revitalised under the campaign, impacting 250,000 students, by 2017

Coca-Cola India, NDTV and UN-Habitat's multi-partner programme for happy, healthy and active schools – Support My School – has completed a significant milestone. The programme that adds to the Prime Minister's efforts under 'Swachh Bharat, SwachhVidyalaya' has completed the revitalisation of 500 schools. These schools have received better access to water and sanitation amongst other facilities, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, impacting over 150,000 students across 22 states.

Sourav Ganguly, appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the ambassadors for his national Swachh Bharat campaign, has also joined hands with the Support My School programme. He will guide and support the campaign in reaching 1,000 schools by 2017.

On the occasion to celebrate the initiative achieving the milestone, Aircel announced a contribution of Rs 8,260,000 lakh towards better sanitation facilities in government schools, while Allana Pvt Ltd announced a donation of Rs 25 lakh.

Support My School started as a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) initiative that aimed to improve basic amenities in government schools, like separate toilets for boys and girls and access to water. The campaign has, over the past four years, committed to developing the overall infrastructure like playgrounds and a clean environment to encourage a holistic learning environment in these schools.

The schools revitalised under the campaign have served as model schools in several districts and have led to enhanced community engagement and higher emphasis on attendance and enrollment.

Venkatesh Kini

Speaking at the event, Venkatesh Kini, President, Coca-Cola India and SWA, said, “I would like to thank all the partners and donors for joining hands and taking this concept of happy, healthy, inclusive schools to 500 schools. After the Prime Minister's 'Swachh Bharat, SwachhVidyalaya' announcement last year, we have committed to scaling up our target to 1,000 schools by 2017. Other than the infrastructure and facilities that this campaign has created, for me what is more valuable is the exposure that the students get when they interact with global leaders, teachers, students and experts from other schools and colleges, through this platform. I thank Swachh Bharat ambassador Sourav Ganguly for lending his hand to the campaign and Farhan Akhtar for steering this concept as the Coca-Cola brand ambassador. We are on an ambitious journey of trying to keep our children, where they belong, but it is a journey that we are traversing together.”

Vikram Chandra

Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV, added here, “It has been a monumental effort by all partners associated with the campaign in helping reach the milestone of 500 schools. The message that healthy and happy schools are central to the foundation of a new India will be our priority and as proud founding partners of this campaign we will continue to give voice to different stakeholders in this journey. I would like to invite more partners to this campaign, as we embark on the mission to reach 1,000 schools.”

As is known, Coca-Cola India and NDTV launched Support My School in association with the UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2011.

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