Echo is a movement to bridge the gap of inequitable education between the public and private sector schools in India. It is a platform, which raises awareness of these inequities and puts into action a sustainable solution all members of the community can support.
The Rotaract Club of H.R. College along with the Rotary Club of Bombay conducted their first Echo in 2015, where they brought together 50 municipal or public school students of Bhavishya Yaan, with 30 Rotaractors (College Students). For Echo 2016 the number grew to 100 municipal school students not only from Bhavishya Yaan but also from YMCA's night study centres and 40 Rotaractors. For Echo 2017, they had over 150 participants and nearly 80 Rotaractors.
During Echo, over the course of the week, the Rotaractors engaged with the municipal school students as mentors, friends, and peers. The sessions planned for them involved:
• Leadership Development
• Confidence Building
• Career and College Specialization Counseling
• Gender Sensitization
• Health & Hygiene
• Logical Thinking
• Creative Implementation
• Speech Writing with a Focus on English
The most profound impact was noticed in the first year Echo was held when it was registered that all the Echo participants enrolled into college. Today, 3 years post the first Echo it is clearly noted that the first and second year participants have completed 2 and 3 years of college and will complete giving their HSC examinations.
This is a huge accomplishment given the high college drop-out rate of students from the slums due to the English instruction for all subjects in college, lack of assimilation and lack of acceptance the municipal school students feel in colleges.
Echo 2018 is a joint movement by Rotaract and Rotary and this year, the project will see participation from 100 Rotaractors (College Students) across 9 different colleges partnering together to conduct Echo that will impact 200 10th standard municipal school students.
The participating colleges include:
• H.R. College
• Hinduja College
• Indian School of Management and Entrepreneurship (ISME)
• K.C. College
• Lala College
• Sophia College
• N.M. College
• Rotaract Club of Bombay
• Ruia Collge
So often we hear people complaining about the state of our country and all its various problems. Echo is an opportunity to get involved in becoming part of a viable and sustainable solution which will help not only bridge the gap in our Indian education system but in time create marketable employees, an empowered workforce and of course a stronger economy.
Echo 2018 will be held on Sunday, April 8, 2018, at the K.C. college Auditorium.
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