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In The SpotlightZensar Foundation sets up libraries for Knowledge Support: ‘Kitaab Korner’ will facilitate learning in the heart of the CommunityLocation: Pune, India | Date: 14/06/2009Pune, 15th July’ 09: The Zensar Foundation today inaugurated two libraries for the underprivileged community at Kharadi, Pune, close to the Corporate Headquarters’ of Zensar Technologies, India’s leading integrated IT and BPO solutions provider. These libraries will be managed by the Foundation, a trust that runs the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The two library centres have been set up at the Zensar-Nasscom Knowledge Centre and at the Akanksha Centre both of which are run by the Zensar Foundation. Akanksha is a non-governmental organization that focuses on developing a strong educational foundation and the Nasscom Foundation, is the social arm of the industry body NASSCOM. The project called ‘Kitaab Korner’ is a simple sustainable library center that is built at the heart of the community and introduces children to a whole new world of knowledge and books that enhance their learning. The project has been implemented in association with Poorvi Kunzru, a dynamic young individual who has developed the concept and is now working towards making these centres available across Pune and Mumbai. “We are looking at setting up many more Library Centres in the state and eventually across the nation. ‘Kitaab Korner’ wears the facade of a simple library but at its core, it is a rich resource center where underprivileged but curious and enthusiastic children and women can come –learn and build a better future for themselves’’, said Poorvi Kunzru. The entire library is managed by the children of the community, who are also librarians here and have been trained on tagging books, labeling, indexing and numbering, covering and caring for these books. The supervising teacher is from a neighboring location and will help the children manage the library. Done up in vibrant colours the library center is a place where the children and members look forward to coming and can see and read big and colourful books in English, Hindi and Marathi and attend bi-monthly activity sessions like health awareness session by doctors, career counseling sessions by experts, food and wellbeing sessions by nutritionists etc . The activity sessions will also include group book discussions, guest lecturers, creative writing and book reading sessions where children write and then compile their own stories into books for the library. At the occasion, Shaonlee Bose, Head of Market Innovation Team, Zensar Technologies and Member of the Steering Committee, Zensar Foundation said, “With the renewed focus of the government and a new education movement in the country, there is a lot to be done in India to enable skill development at the grass roots and this is a step in that direction. The corporate sector can play a major role in extending the support required to increase education in our country. We will support the Kitaab Korner team to reach out to many other schools in cities like Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai and in rural India.” Established for the purpose of improving, guiding and inspiring the lives of the underprivileged, the Zensar Foundation facilitates programs and gives direct assistance and resources to individuals, families and other charitable organizations. Nurturing experiences and personal opportunities are also provided for those in the community who have little or no access to education. . Parul Vaidya - Market Innovation Group, Zensar Technologies, |
