“By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit. Literacy is not the end of education or even the beginning” Words of Mahatma Gandhi

Amid uncertainties, yet another academic year is all set ahead of us without a warm welcome in the school premises, and there is no sight of children walking with their bags and umbrellas to school on their first day. In the wake of Covid-19, Kerala Government has decided to keep the schools shut, and students are confined to their houses to learn new methods of education. On June 1, Kerala Government began virtual classes for school students. It is an effort to ensure that no child in our society misses out on lessons due to Covid-19 induced lockdown. The new method of teaching and studying will be a challenge to the teachers as well as students, for one of the key issues is the fact that around two lakh students lack facilities for online classes in the state.

Sahrudaya, official Diocesan Social Work Wing of Ernakulam & Angamaly Arch Diocese has undertaken a new project “Sahrudaya Vidyadarshan”, a programme for vulnerable students in the state to ensure that they have a virtual platform for continuous education. The programme is a collaborative venture of Sahrudaya, with Sanjo Charities Trust and Corporate Educational Agency of Archdiocese of Ernakualam-Angamaly. It is the first undertaking by a Non-Governmental Organization with the support of various stakeholders entrusting the school authorities to make sure that students have access to a television for the classes. Sahrudaya identified over 500 students who lack facilities for online education with the help of an active team of volunteers.

The official inaugural ceremony of Sahrudaya Vidyadarshan took place at St. Joseph’s U.P. School, Kadavanthra, Ernakulum, on 6^th June 2020. The programme was inaugurated by the chief guest, Agriculture Minister of Kerala, Mr. V.S Sunil Kumar, in the presence of His Grace, Archbishop, Mar Antony Karyil of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, and Mayor of Corporation of Cochin, Ms Soumini Jain. The objective of this collaborative venture of Sahrudaya is to ensure educational technology to the vulnerable kids and equipping them with television for online learning. The programme is a response to the Covid-19 emergency, wherein partners have come up with an alternative and a smarter way to tackle the pandemic. The inaugural speech was delivered by Mr V.S Sunil Kumar. He mentioned, “Vidyadarshan project is an outstanding model by Sahrudaya and showcases that Non- Governmental Organizations have a paramount role in collaboration with Government during extremities. In the times of pandemic, different stakeholders must come together and join hands to serve those in need. As children are future of tomorrow, no compromises be made with their education. More organizations should come forward to secure the future of tomorrow.”

The health emergency has affected many people, but it affects poor and vulnerable people most deeply. The crises can be solved by a united effort that calls for networking and partnership and share the common value to achieve common outcomes. The programme also reflects that present crises is an opportunity to start afresh and thereby ensures that education of children is not compromised.