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Bhubaneswar: With an aim to promote Indian art and culture and bringing about economic and social upliftment for underprivileged in urban and rural slums of Odisha and Delhi, Parichay Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, organised Kiah Fashion Show at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon in the city here this evening on the occasion of Children’s Day.
The show was organised as part of the efforts of Parichay to raise funds for this scholarship programme, which it wants to take to a larger scale within the state in the years to come. In the first phase, Parichay has already received support from PGL Foundation in the city for the cause.
The idea is to raise funds for its flagship project, ‘Alaknanda Scholarship Programme’ for drop-out girl students.
The fashion show witnessed eminent women personalities of the state including social worker Namrata Chadha, renowned singer and writer Adyasha Das, hurdle queen of India and Olympian Anuradha Biswal, eminent singer Susmita Das, homemaker and spiritual master Neelam Kandoi walking the ramp with the girls along with Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry.
Eminent socialite Shalini Mohanty, Director, Mayfair, Pooja Ray and eminent Odia television actress Usasi Mishra participated in the event as judges, which was managed by Prelude.
Designer dresses for the girls were made by Harpreet Kalsi of Zovala fame, the fashion partner for the event while Junthi Hota from Headturners, Chandrasekharpur gave the girls a makeover, the salon being a styling partner for the event. Richa Ray, an aspiring fashion designer from a renowned design institute in the city had groomed the girls to walk the ramp.
The event was conceptualised by Dikhya Tiwari, consultant to Parichay Foundation and a freelancer journalist, anchor and TV host.
With so many women coming forward to support the cause, founder Rosalin Patsani Mishra expressed confidence that this Children’s Day will be very special for Parichay Foundation.
“The idea behind the fashion show is toensure that girls from poor financial background also get the much-deserved chance to study and stand on their own feet. As these girls walk the ramp with confidence, they will not only feel special, they will also feel happy that their efforts on stage are helping girls like them get access to education through the Alaknanda Scholarship Programme. I feel education is the birth right of every girl child and every girl should get an opportunity to give a shape to her dreams through education. Alaknanda Scholarship Programme is just a new beginning for us in the same old direction. Although I am aware that there will be many challenges ahead, I am confident that the project can be successful because the intentions are noble and there are always good people around who are more than willing to contribute for a cause. I request the media to come forward and support this unique fashion show for a cause,” she said.
Along with the fashion show, the event also witnessed live performances by renowned singer Tapu Mishra and her band and a hip-hop dance performance by slum children, all adopted by Parichay Foundation.
Parichay Foundation, which has been felicitated by the President of India and recognised by the United Nations for its outstanding work, has been consistently working for empowerment of girls and women to ensure their sustainable development through its projects ever since it came into existence in November 2007.
The Foundation which has successfully implemented many projects in the sectors of education, health and skill development over the last nine years, starting 2016, has launched a scholarship project for girls dropping out of schools across urban slums and interiors of Odisha, as its flagship project. The focus will be mainly on girls who have dropped out of school, mostly after Standard VIII for financial constraints but have an inclination to pursue their education and pass their matriculation.
In the first phase, the foundation has identified 56 girl students (following an entrance exam) from the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and also some from within the Salia Sahi slum, who would be enrolled under National Institute Of Open Schooling (NIOS) by the foundation.
Parichay will also adopt them for an entire year to help them go through regular classes with the course material provided by NIOS. The objective will be to help them clear their matriculation examination in a year’s time with guidance from regular salaried teachers and volunteers.
