The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Street children join celebration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 26, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Street children join celebration

Staff Reporter

Nesakkaram marks school enrolment day

CHENNAI: More than 500 street and working children gathered at the St. Anthony's Anglo Indian High School, Pudupet, here on Saturday evening to celebrate Nesakkaram's school enrolment day.

The non-governmental organisation has been enabling out of school children to enter mainstream schools with counselling and material assistance from year 2000.

Around 60 children were enrolled on Saturday and provided with school kits at an event attended by other children Nesakkaram is working with.

Fifty children who have returned to school with the organisation's help and had completed classes ten or twelve were felicitated.

Children and staff presented cultural programmes reiterating the importance of attending school. Noor Jahan, who formerly helped her mother sell vegetables, told the audience about how she joined sixth standard after Nesakkaram's intervention.

Appeal to Government

Fr. Jesu, director, Nesakkaram, recalled that several hundred children have been enrolled in school over the years by the organisation.

He requested the Government to take all possible measures to ensure that all children attended school.

One of the principal challenges the organisation faced was convincing parents of first generation learners of the value of education, he said.

R. Narayanan, superintendent, Government Royapettah Hospital, and D. Pragasam of BIC Logistic Ltd were special guests and offered their felicitations and support.

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