New Delhi, November 13 2017: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India Foundation today inaugurated a community library and resource centre in Old Gurgaon, which will provide women and children access to affordable and quality resources around education and skill development.
The initiative, ‘Saksharta se Safalta’, is in partnership with NGO Rural Education and Development (READ) India. The Centre aims at improving economic development opportunities to those who have limited access to knowledge, resources and opportunities necessary to build prosperous futures.
Jaivir Singh, Vice Chairman, PwC India Foundation said, “This is a stepping stone towards providing accessible, affordable and quality resources towards education and skill development in this part of old Gurgaon. Education is one of the Foundation’s core focus areas. We believe that along with traditional schooling, a child must have opportunities to improve language, reading comprehension and computer skills which are an integral part of a wholesome education.”
The Centre was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Narhari Singh Banger, Additional Commissioner – Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon.
Over the next three years, the community library and resource centre at Sheetla Mata Colony in Old Gurgaon will provide services to improve the beneficiaries’ reading and writing skills, conduct health workshops, offer life skill programmes, deliver computer education at basic and advance levels, as well as provide livelihood training around jobs like stitching and sewing.
Geeta Malhotra, Country Director, READ India said, “We are committed to bring education and development at the doorstep of communities to facilitate access to books, internet, and develop the habit of reading and writing among small children. Till date, we have touched the lives of almost 380,000 rural/semi-urban people through our services and programmes through 28 centres and 12 satellites to reach out to maximum communities.”
Over 400 families will be sensitised about the importance of education and be empowered to read and write through workshops and focussed group discussions. Nearly 300 students will get online and offline coaching for competitive examinations and training around life skills respectively.
A mobilisation drive will be launched in the first six months to mobilise communities to visit the centre and spread awareness. All funding, operations, maintenance and training will be supported by the PwC India Foundation.
