Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

A motivational effort indeed

VIJAYAWADA: “As we fundamentally believe that all children have the capacity and motivation to learn, we prioritise facilitation of equal access to opportunities that improve learning, including early care and health services,” says Elliott Prasse-Freeman, Regional Project Coordinator of the Health and Human Development Global Programmes wing of the Thailand-based Education Development Centre (EDC).

He was addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), a local non-governmental organisation with which the EDC was collaborating with the support of the Deutsche Bank. The VMM, in turn, was working with a network of seven NGOs in five districts across Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Freeman said as issues like health, education and livelihood were focus areas of the EDC, which was involved in nearly 325 projects in 35 countries; sensitisation of different sections must go hand-in-hand.

Speaking about the educational project taken up with the help of the VMM, he said since his organisation was not familiar with the local conditions, it was necessary to seek assistance of the local organisations for effective result. The EDC’s educational drive covered over 2,000 children in the local schools. Besides providing books, bags and other stationary, the project envisaged creating an enabling atmosphere for children affected with HIV. Support groups were formed with children, for which a staff member would function as catalysts for the sensitisation drive.

“One of the biggest challenges before us is monitoring the welfare activities taken up in different parts of the world. Partnership with organisations like the VMM proves to be beneficial in this respect,” he explained. Referring to a round-table conference he held a couple of days ago with the VMM and representatives of its entire network NGOs, Mr. Freeman said it had helped them arrive at a streamlined approach.

Former MP and VMM president Chennupati Vidya, secretary G. Rashmi and technical support manager B. Keerthi were also present.

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