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Akshara Khazana for Bangalore Kids
Nycil George, Mar 04, 2006 1625 hrs ISTAkshara Foundation and Juniper Networks have launched Akshara Khazana - a children's library in Bangalore.
In a joint initiative of Akshara Foundation and Juniper Networks, Akshara has launched Akshara Khazana - a children's library, at the Akshara-Juniper Educational Resource Centre at Annasandrapallya in Bangalore.
Akshara Foundation, a Bangalore-based Public Charitable Trust set up in March 2000, has taken the lead to launch a community library program that promises to open up a world of reading to underprivileged children.
Akshara is part of the Pratham Network - a national initiative that has helped more than a million children gain access to quality primary education.
Juniper Networks, a US-based networking and security solutions company, has sponsored the project and worked hand in hand with Akshara to help the project see light.
The library was inaugurated by T M Vijay Bhaskar IAS, secretary - primary and secondary education, education department, Karnataka, and Sridhar Sarathy, managing director, Juniper Networks India.
The library will cater to 1,000 children from under-privileged communities. The library will eventually have over 1000 books in English, Hindi, Urdu and Telugu, including three sets of reference books.
Akshara Khazana also sports a computer center - currently housing four computers - with plans for additional computers as well as Internet access. An LCD projector and screen - support the library's audio-visual learning resources. There is an in-house software exclusively customized for the purpose of keeping a track of books and children.
Rohini Nilekani, chairperson, Akshara Foundation, said, "We are
extremely happy to announce this initiative, and also see great
response already from the people of the locality, schools etc. Akshara Khazana is sponsored by Juniper Networks and supported by government authorities and dedicated officials from the Department of libraries. We are looking at or rather foreseeing 'Libraries of the Future' and working towards that."
The Akshara Foundation also has programs like Computer Assisted Learning (CAL). According to internal sources, CAL is often referred to as a supplement to regular instruction, as a possible way to improve the quality of education in developing countries. Good educational software can be reproduced at nominal cost, and well-designed educational games can sustain interest and curiosity, in an otherwise dull school environment.
Pratham was established in Mumbai in 1994 with support from the UNICEF, and has since expanded to several other cities in the country. Pratham now reaches over 121,000 children across 20 cities, and employs around 10,000 individuals.
Akshara Foundation, a Bangalore-based Public Charitable Trust set up in March 2000, has taken the lead to launch a community library program that promises to open up a world of reading to underprivileged children.
Akshara is part of the Pratham Network - a national initiative that has helped more than a million children gain access to quality primary education.
Juniper Networks, a US-based networking and security solutions company, has sponsored the project and worked hand in hand with Akshara to help the project see light.
The library was inaugurated by T M Vijay Bhaskar IAS, secretary - primary and secondary education, education department, Karnataka, and Sridhar Sarathy, managing director, Juniper Networks India.
The library will cater to 1,000 children from under-privileged communities. The library will eventually have over 1000 books in English, Hindi, Urdu and Telugu, including three sets of reference books.
Akshara Khazana also sports a computer center - currently housing four computers - with plans for additional computers as well as Internet access. An LCD projector and screen - support the library's audio-visual learning resources. There is an in-house software exclusively customized for the purpose of keeping a track of books and children.
Rohini Nilekani, chairperson, Akshara Foundation, said, "We are
extremely happy to announce this initiative, and also see great
response already from the people of the locality, schools etc. Akshara Khazana is sponsored by Juniper Networks and supported by government authorities and dedicated officials from the Department of libraries. We are looking at or rather foreseeing 'Libraries of the Future' and working towards that."
The Akshara Foundation also has programs like Computer Assisted Learning (CAL). According to internal sources, CAL is often referred to as a supplement to regular instruction, as a possible way to improve the quality of education in developing countries. Good educational software can be reproduced at nominal cost, and well-designed educational games can sustain interest and curiosity, in an otherwise dull school environment.
Pratham was established in Mumbai in 1994 with support from the UNICEF, and has since expanded to several other cities in the country. Pratham now reaches over 121,000 children across 20 cities, and employs around 10,000 individuals.
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Mrs Shruti Sing
,Gorakhpur, on Apr 05, 2006 11:16 AM
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Uma
,Bangalore, on Mar 10, 2006 05:18 AM
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