Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi and Save the Children India, Bal Raksha Bharat (SCBR) have signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) for a partnership of 100 Days of Action and Save Our Education Campaign with special emphasis on girls’ education. The Rural Management (RM) Programme of XISS will be carrying out the activities mentioned in the MoU. Dr. Raj Shree Verma and Soumi Halder will be organising activities of this MOU on behalf of XISS and Save The Children respectively
This partnership is in time to amplify and advocate for educational rights of children in Jharkhand and across the country during the campaigning period starting from 1st July to 8th September, 2021; thereby upholding basic education rights of children in the state and across the country, amid pandemic, as a digital divide disabled children to continue their education.
Dr. Joseph Marianus Kujur, Director, XISS during the signing of the MoU said, “XISS is elated on this collaboration with Save The Children focusing on the educational rights of children. The pandemic has affected in ways beyond imagination where several children are unable to pursue their education due to the digital divide and closure of schools. So, with this collaborative effort, we wish to bridge the gap and increase awareness for maximum support from the government, civil societies, and educational institutions.”
Under this partnership, SCBR, and XISS will organise several action moments during this campaign such as Story Telling and Comic making competition in August, messages from the advocacy appeal for the campaign on social media will be shared, a Sign the Petition: www.change.org/100DaysOfAction will be done by students and fraternity, a webinar will be organised followed by discussions on issues related to child education amid pandemic. A debate competition titled The Voice of Change- “Is Online Education a breach to the Right to Education and ‘Pause and Think Moment’ was organised in this context earlier.
Dr. Himadari Sinha, HoP of Rural Management Programme of XISS during the signing of the MoU said: “This association of XISS and Save The Children will certainly amplify the scope for advocacy for the educational rights of children especially amidst the pandemic and a divide which is arising due to it. Education is a basic right to each one and this collaboration focuses on bringing this issue to the fore for the Government and other stakeholders to find a solution to.”
Mahadev Hansda, Head - Project Office (Jharkhand), SCBR while elaborating the requirements of the MoU said, “Save the Children is very happy to collaborate with XISS on the educational rights of children. The collaborative efforts would help to amplify the importance of continuity of education amid the pandemic. How the closure of schools might have an impact on children and it is anticipated that 10 million girls might not return back to schools forever. So, we urge the Government, CSOs, educational institutions together to talk about the issue and support those children to continue their education.”