Magic Bus, Oracle work for Education for all

Vikarabad: Magic Bus, one of the largest poverty alleviation programmes in India, with the support of Oracle, is implementing an adolescent education programme in Vikarabad district.

WHAT WORKSHOP AIMS AT

• To bring all partners and government departments working on child rights and child education together on a common platform.

• To generate a discussion on various obstacles being faced by children to access the right to free and compulsory education.

• To facilitate parents and children of the programme to present their issues and advocate for their Right to Education.

• To generate discussions on programmes and opportunities being provided by NGOs and the Government with regard to education for children.

• To document and submit a report on the recommendations emerged during the discussions to the Government, to facilitate the further strengthening of existing Government schemes and services, accessible to all children.

The project is working with 2,000 adolescent children from underserved communities in Pargi, Vikarabad. Oracle also supports 2000 children in Bangalore and 1000 children in Chennai.

The Magic Bus Childhood to Livelihood programme currently reaches out to 3,75,000 children and young people in 22 States and 80 districts of India in FY 18-19 alone. The programme aims at empowering participants to complete secondary education and become work ready individuals who can then have a sustainable career in the organised sector, helping them move out of poverty.

As part of the programme, Magic Bus organised a consultative workshop on education in Hyderabad on Tuesday to identify opportunities in the Government of India and Government of Telangana' initiative of 'Education for All.' Several district officials and partner NGOs were part of the workshop. Murali Chikku, RTE National Committee member was the chief guest.

Natasha Ramarathnam, Regional Director–South, Magic Bus, said, "The core of our discussion today and the Childhood to Livelihood programme is to support government efforts in achieving the colossal goal of 'Education for All' in Hyderabad. We have been supporting several state governments across the country in implementing their education programmes successfully.

Since 1999 we have impacted more than 1 million children and young people in India and Asia. Our sports activity- based learning programme has been shown to have positive outcomes on our children and young people. It has enabled them to complete their secondary education, delay their age at marriage and have the right employability skills to enter organised work."