Chennai: Students of three Panchayat schools would heave a sigh of relief now, with improved facilities like new toilets, and drinking water in place. Thanks to Satyabhama University which has taken a keen interest in improving the quality of school education, the schools witnessed a surge of renovation efforts which would indeed be of great help. The University’s initiatives were part of World Vision India’s Support My School (SMS) campaign, an initiative started by Coco-Cola and NDTV in 2012. The campaign aims at equipping schools with quality essential infrastructure in rural areas, to reduce the number of drop-outs due to the poor condition of the schools.

Three schools were identified for renovation by World Vision India, namely Panchayat Union Middle School (Sholinganallur), Panchayat Union Primary School (Karapakkam), and Panchayat Union Primary School (Kannagi Nagar). The infrastructure revitalization which includes construction of new toilets, provision for clean drinking water, hand-wash areas and child friendly spaces would benefit more than 1200 students and 30 teachers across the three institutions. Bagyalakshmi, a Class 8 student is overjoyed that things are changing for the better. “Our school earlier did not have proper toilets for girls and boys, and the condition was very pathetic.  It had no ceiling and the doors were without latches. It was so embarrassing, so most of the time we avoided using toilet and we would control till we reach home. Our health was also a challenge, those days.  Now we are free from all that,” she says. The dilapidated floors and roofs were either repaired or replaced, giving the school buildings a new look. “From our experience, we know that drop-out rates had been high from these schools, especially those of girl children, due to lack of secure and clean sanitation facilities We are overwhelmed with the interest Satyabhama University has shown in this campaign, to bring about smiles in these children’s faces,” said Anand Joshua, Head, Marketing, World Vision India.

While World Vision India was critical in the execution of the project, Satybhama University played a key role in contributing to the finances. “We believe we have a responsibility to our society, to give back something in return for what we have received. Through this initiative, we hope to get more children attending school and realising their dreams,” said Dr. Marie Johnson and Dr. Mariazeena Johnson,  Directors, Sathyabhama University.