A Canadian film company and a local NGO have come together to launch a ‘One Book Please’ campaign to make a dent in India's illiteracy problem.
Harbourfront Motion Pictures & Entertainment India, in association with NGO We+ (WE positive), has launched a ‘One Book Please’ campaign to make a dent in India's illiteracy problem.
Spearheaded by 21-year-old social activist and Harbourfront India's director of operations Shreya Naik, the campaign is being promoted through a blog and various social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook.
“For any charity event, funds are always an issue," said Naik. "So we are relying on social networking websites and also publicity through SMS and word-of-mouth. We are calling as many NGOs as possible to work with us for the distribution of notebooks that will be collected.”
The initiative came about when Naik launched We+ three years ago to address issues like illiteracy.
“NGOs are often associated with donations, so people don’t want to get involved with the cause," she said. "So, Harbourfront, which is a Canadian company, and We+ came together and conducted a survey where we found out what school-going children needed the most.
"Stationery is something many students cannot afford. So we came up with the idea of asking people to donate at least one blank notebook which will reach needy students through various NGOs and orphanages.”
Naik and her team of five volunteers has roped in Chandresh Kudwa, lead/rhythym guitarist of rock band Dream Out Loud, to support the cause. Kudwa himself is contributing 100 notebooks.
“I was touched by the whole concept and so I decided to support it," said Kudwa. "The want of a notebook is so minimalist, yet it is a hope for educating someone."
Kudwa said he is promoting the campaign through an initiative called 'Axe-tortion'. "We are also doing a performance for them on October 24 at the Sobo Central Mall [in Mumbai],” said the musician.
The organisers, meanwhile, are looking for volunteers from city schools and colleges to make the campaign a success.
“We have a lot of street campaigns, city walks planned for One Book Please," said Naik. "But we are looking for volunteers who will be involved in verifying NGOs approaching us and also dealing with the distribution of the collected material.”
The campaign has a rather modest target of collecting 20,010 notebooks.
If you wish to volunteer, contact Mihin 9833619952 or Rupesh 9869028660.
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