The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Giving wings to ‘little dreams’

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Saturday, May 23, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Giving wings to ‘little dreams’

Staff Reporter

— Photo: R. Ravindran

Vestas India managing director Arvind Kaul and Director of FoodKing Sarath Babu interact with children at a programme organised as part of the ‘Little Dreams’ initiative in Chennai on Friday.

Chennai: Ramakalmedu in Idukki district might hold charm for its rolling green hills, but for the many children hailing from the rural hamlet they want more developments to see their dreams take wings. They want better roads and institutions of higher education to achieve their goals.

The biggest encouragement for Athira Mol D., a class XI student, came in the form of scholarship money from Vestas Wind Technology. ‘Little Dreams’ an initiative rolled out in 2007 for 20 children as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the company, where they work with communities in and around the wind farms, had on Friday been extended to around 202 children across India.

“The scholarship money has motivated more students to secure better marks. For me, it has helped me supplement my educational expense, which my parents have been meeting even during difficult times,” says Athira, who wants to become a Marine Engineer.

Around 270 children from the rural pockets in Pollachi, Tenkasi and Ramakalmedu, primarily pockets where Vestas has its wind farms, are on a two-day trip to the city for a motivational workshop. Around 122 children out of them are beneficiaries of the Vestas educational scholarship.

On Friday, children from 13 schools across Tamil Nadu and Kerala gathered at the Museum Theatre in Chennai to listen to motivational talks from personalities, and go on field trips, including a visit to the Vestas factory in Sholinganallur to see the making of a wind turbine.

Inaugurating the event, Arvind Kaul, managing director of Vestas India, asked children to dream as only then would they strive for bigger things in life and they will come true. “We have plans to expand the reach of ‘Little Dreams’ project in the coming years,” he added.

Director of FoodKing, Sarath Babu, who secured admission into top institutions despite his humble background, asked children to do good to others. “Help others who have difficulties like you.”

Citing examples of the hardships he had faced, the entrepreneur asked students to “dream how you can become big, wherever you are.”

Project Little Dream was assisted by Aid India, a Chennai-based non-governmental organisation. Eight teachers from different schools were also honoured for their contribution towards the cause of education. A. Ravishankar, joint secretary, Aid India spoke.

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