WPP Foundation, the CSR entity of WPP in India, joined Shree Ram Welfare Society’s High School in Mumbai to organise Hastakala 2019, an annual initiative to provide students a platform to develop skills in the areas of communication, management and marketing, as well as showcase their creative abilities.
Started in 2012 by the school to promote the Skill Development India Project, Hastakala has gradually expanded beyond an exhibition. Under the theme of ‘Reconnect with the Spirit of Andheri’ this year, the event witnessed thousands of students showcasing their creativity to highlight the varied aspects of nature, importance of connecting with our families and peers. They also showcased various artefacts made from recycled products.
On the initiative Rama Iyer, Director General, WPP India CSR Foundation said, “Hastakala encourages young minds to explore the world of creativity as a pathway to their livelihood while instilling confidence, opportunity to express and developing an entrepreneurial mindset.”
Founded in 2015, the WPP India CSR Foundation strives to bring about a social change through its flagship Education to Livelihood programme (E2L).
Addressing key focus areas—retention in school, poor learning outcomes, work skilling and deep-rooted social norms, the E2L programme has been providing interventions and resources to 20,000 first-generation learners from 11- 18 years.
Currently, the programme is running successfully in 10 underserved schools across the Mumbai and Delhi-NCR region. Through strategic partnerships with best-of-breed social organizations, the E2L programme takes an evidence-based approach in developing frameworks to facilitate successful implementation.
The Foundation’s key initiatives include improving educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy, with a focus on opening young minds to the world of digital innovation. The Foundation also inculcates in youth a sense of confidence and gender equality as well as train their mindsets and habits for future livelihoods, through counselling, sport, dance and music.
The programme has helped 70% children secure their future through employment or higher education, reduce dropout rates to less than 3%, initiate better health standards, double the ability of coding, and increase confidence levels, said a release.
