Residents Of Navlakhumbre Connected To World Through Technology And Education
NAVLAKHUMBRE, India, Nov. 19, 2006 - Anxious villagers and
school children of Navlakhumbre received a much-awaited special delivery from
UPS this week, and it didn't come in a delivery truck. The delivery came
in the form of UPS's Building Program, aimed at improving the lives of the
villagers through education and technology.
Working as a team over the last two days, villagers of Navlakhumbre,
international government officials from Germany, United Kingdom and Estonia and
UPS volunteers from all over the world partnered with each other to construct
two state-of-the-art computer labs that will connect this village in Maharashtra
to the world. The two computer labs were built with a financial investment
of approximately Rs.2.5 crore and consist of 50 computers, all linked via
satellite to provide Internet access to the villagers.
At a dedication ceremony held at the construction site today, the labs were
handed over to the residents of Navlakhumbre by Shri. Shivaji Adhalrao
Patil, Member of Parliament from Khed (Maharashtra), together with Ken Torok,
president of UPS Asia Pacific Region.
UPS has adopted a distinct approach to community work by encouraging its
employees to immerse themselves in the local culture as they work side-by-side
with residents of the community.
"The UPS Building Program is part of UPS's unique strategy to connect and
understand the various cultures and countries it serves around the world," said
Torok. "We are proud to help the villagers seek new opportunities in
life. The computers provided here today are not just about Internet
access. They are about giving these children a window to see the world and
new opportunities to attain their dreams."
The UPS Building Program is a commitment between UPS, the local, regional and
federal Indian governments and the people of Navlakhumbre and the partnership is
key to the success of the program. The Indian government has committed to
match UPS's contribution to the village in the form of funding for road
improvement, educational support and healthcare.
"The investment by UPS's Building Program is just the beginning," added
Torok. "We will continue to support these efforts through the financing of
teachers, Internet connectivity and the awarding of scholarships so long as the
villagers and government maintain this tight partnership to see it through."
In addition to the financial commitment, UPS provided staffing toward the
training of teachers for the computer labs and English classes. UPS also
initiated programs to address public health issues such as malnutrition in
children, lack of medical attention and general hygiene for the villagers.
School children now are provided with dietary supplements at school; doctors
have held mass examination camps for residents needing medical attention, and
garbage cans have been placed all over the village along with posters
highlighting the importance of hygiene.
In the last eight years, UPS has constructed computer labs in remote villages
in Poland, Mexico and China. In 2005, 80 UPS employees from 11 countries
constructed a fully functional computer lab complete with computers, printers,
software and training for students, teachers and residents of Lipa, Poland.
UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in
supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing
the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta,
Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's
stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found
on the Web at www.ups.com.
Highlights of the UPS Building Program
The Process:
- UPS commits financing and staffing towards the training of teachers for the
computer labs and English classes, as well as for the construction of two
computer labs
- Other assistance is provided in the form of programs to help improve basic
health services
- The Indian Government commits to match UPS's contribution to the village in
the form of funding for road improvements, educational support, and
healthcare
- The Government must also develop and execute a plan that makes the
transformation of the village possible (Such as developing clean water sources
and maintaining the sanitary needs of the village)
- The people of Navlakhumbre are the main beneficiaries and hold the key to
the program's success
- Villagers work alongside UPS volunteers to ensure the sustainability of the
project and to adopt the vision of what must be done to sustain the project's
long-term success.
The Achievement To-Date:
- Construction of two new computer labs with 50 computers for two schools in
the village that will aid children's education and help connect the village to
the world
- Financial support for the hiring and training of computer lab instructors,
and English language programs for all village residents
- Academic scholarships for outstanding students to pursue higher
education
- Financial support for art, music, and science classes
- Financial support for the purchase of equipment and instruction in sports
and music programs
- Dietary supplements for children at school
- Addressing basic health issues through a doctor
- Mass examination camps conducted for the village residents and children
needing medical attention
- Hepatitis B vaccination for all children in the village
- New uniforms for all school children
- Play equipment for children given by UPS employees as voluntary
donations
- Provided basic hygiene tools such as garbage cans for the entire village;
organised regular garbage collection; periodic cleaning of garbage cans and
building sanitary facilities such as toilets for the village residents
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