Venkatesh Kini (President, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia) with actress Anushka Sharma and Vikram Chandra (Group CEO, NDTV)

NDTV & Coca-Cola launch the 3rd season of Support My School

by  Dharm Patel Marketing | November 14, 2014 | News

NDTV Coca-Cola Support My School

Coca-Cola India, NDTV and UN-Habitat’s multi partner program ‘Support My School’ (SMS) will now scale up its effort to touch 1000 schools and 350,000 students by 2016. The third season of the program, an effort that started in 2009, aims to add to the government’s efforts under the ‘Swacch Bharat, Swacch Vidyalaya’ initiative.

SMS is a WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) initiative that aims to improve basic amenities in government schools like separate toilets for boys and girls and access to water. The campaign is also committed to developing the overall infrastructure like play ground and a clean environment to encourage a holistic learning environment.

The launch took place on Nov. 13 at a newly revitalized Sonkh Government Middle School, Nuh District, Haryana. Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, Venkatesh Kini (President, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia) and Vikram Chandra (Group CEO, NDTV) launched SMS in front of around 1000 students, teachers, principals and partners of various schools that have been revitalized under the SMS campaign.

The SRF Foundation, World Vision India, Plan India and Charities Aid Foundation India are all core partners of the SMS campaign. Their directors were present on the occasion and spoke about the need and request of community to scale the program up and take it to more schools.

Speaking on the occasion, Venkatesh Kini, President, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia, said: “We believe that businesses today should join hands with the government and civil society to create a lasting positive impact on the communities in which we operate. In addition to our focus on environment and water, we have also been focussing on education because we believe that education is the basis of social change. We are thankful to all the partners for having believed in this campaign and for coming together to the launch today.”

Sharma joined the students to celebrate Children’s Day with them. Extending her support to the campaign, she said: “I am very excited to be here today and celebrate Children’s Day in this particular school that has been revitalized by the campaign. Today when we as a country have had so many achievements at the global platform, it is disappointing to see that basic sanitation amenities are lacking in the country targeting children who suffer the most. After seeing this school and the changes this campaign has brought about, I am very happy to know that Support My School is being taken to 1000 more schools in India. We need more such initiatives that focus on students’ needs of clean water, proper sanitation, facilities for sports and libraries etc. so that these students get a holistic and hygienic upbringing, just like we all did. Congratulations to all the partners for a job well done.”

Commenting on the initiative, Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV said: “We at NDTV have always been committed to initiatives that bring about positive changes in society. We are proud to partner with Coca-Cola for this campaign and extend our support to the students’ needs of adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities. We hope that the campaign successfully revitalizes the 1000 schools it aims to in the next two years and that we can extend support to many more such schools in the country in the future.”

Adding further, Dr. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF Foundation said: “We are proud to be a part of this campaign which has brought about a positive change to education and sanitation in many schools in India. We learnt from the first season to ensure that we provide a holistic development infrastructure to schools in the second season. There are many schools where the enrolment has increased post the work done under SMS and it is great to see that. We look forward to another great year ahead under Season 3.”

The campaign, in its first four years, has already revitalized 370 schools in 20 states across the country impacting nearly 120,000 students. The schools were revitalized with contributions of nearly INR 20 crores. The schools revitalized under the campaign have served as model schools in several districts and have led to enhanced community engagement and higher emphasis on attendance and enrolment.