| ICICI Bank's 'Read to Lead' initiative was launched in 2008 to facilitate elementary education for underprivileged children in the age group of 6-14 years. As an investment into India’s future, the initiative focused on strengthening the existing education system, rather than creating a parallel one in the country. It is aimed at making underprivileged children of our country self-reliant and self-dependent by getting them into the mainstream of our education system. It is a movement to strengthen the future of our nation, an attempt towards a better life.
To ensure the effectiveness of the programme design and implementation, 'Read to Lead' partnered with 30 NGOs (non-governmental organisations) having vast experience in the field of education. They were chosen on the basis of their years of experience in the field of education, their ideologies, the sustainability of their models and their outreach. To know more about ICICI Bank’s partners, please click here.
They mobilised parent and community involvement in education, organised teacher trainings, and enabled underprivileged children to complete formal elementary education. In addition, the programme provided educational kits with uniforms, books, stationery and woollen clothes, offered health and nutritional support for children, while also supporting the education of children with special needs.
The 'Read to Lead' programme has reached out to more than 100,000 children across 14 states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Orissa, West Bengal, and Rajasthan.
ICICI Bank is implementing this programme through ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth with the help of the Foundation's partners – CSO Partners and ICICI Centre for Elementary Education (ICEE). Committed to improving social, economic and human development outcomes at the national level, the ICICI Group has established The ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth. The Foundation's mission is to increase the incomes of low-income households in India in a sustainable manner.
- CSO
Partners works with ICICI Foundation to facilitate strategic partnerships between civil society organizations and experienced service providers in areas including organizational governance, human resources, communications, legal aid and accounting, volunteering and financial management. CSO Partners works with specialized entities such as GIVE India and MITRA to facilitate linkages between corporate and retail contributors and deserving NGOs. The 'Read to Lead' programme will be co-ordinated by CSO Partners.
- The ICICI Center for Elementary Education is an interdisciplinary organization working towards the universalization of elementary education in India. This focus derives from the belief that education up to the elementary level is a minimal and necessary condition for individuals to participate meaningfully in socio-economic processes, and collectively contribute to the development of society.
|
