SOA’s ‘Jaago’ Initiative To Help Slum Children

Bhubaneswar: SOA (Deemed to be University) students, who have taken admission into various courses, were introduced to the university’s social service initiative at a function organised in the campus on Friday.

The students mingled with children drawn from different slums, who are taught in the evening six days a week under the ‘Jaago’ banner. They were informed about various initiatives taken to help children from the weaker sections of society to come up the ladder of success.

Set up in 2007, ‘Jaago’ has taken the lead to educate slum children. SOA students take an active interest in teaching them every evening in the campus. The university’s buses ferry the children from the slums and drop them back after the teaching session. They are provided food, uniform, school bags and other learning accessories.

 ‘Jaago’ volunteers also visit the slums periodically to clean the area, educate the people to guard against diseases and often celebrate occasions like Holi and Diwali with the slum dwellers.

SOA vice-president Saswati Das graced the occasion and lauded the students for their interest and involvement in a mission aimed at improving the lot of slum children. “It is a great job being done by the students,” she said.

The children, who are also taught to sing and dance by the students, performed on the occasion. Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) Dean, Prof P.K. Sahu also spoke, among others.