THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forging friendship through books and reading. That’s what students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, have chosen as their motto. Under ‘Gift a Book and Get a Friend’, a social responsibility initiative, students of the school donated books to the Government Model Upper Primary School, Kumarapuram.
S Ajayakumar, Principal, KV Pattom, inaugurated the programme by handing over a set of books for the school library to T Sudharma, senior teacher, Government Model UPS Kumarapuram. A K John, president, Parent Teachers’ Association presided over the function.
S L Faisal, Librarian, KV Pattom and co-coordinator of the prrogramme was also present. ‘Gift a Book and Get a Friend’ was conceived under the ‘Library-Social Connect’ programme launched in 2013. Instead of providing financial contribution or donation, the school plans a long-term relationship by forging friendships through the mutual love for books.
In addition to helping children in schools that lack a well-stocked library, the programme also sensitizes the Readers’ Club members to the social realities beyond the school walls. The programme is being organized every academic year with a new school.
The schools so far covered are Government Upper Primary School, Palkulangara (2013-14), Government Upper Primary School, Ulloor (2014-15), Government Lower Primary School Pettah (2015-16), and Government High School Mannanthala (2016-17).
More than 500 good quality used and new Malayalam and English books were collected from students and staff of Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom. All students of the partnering school were presented with book packets which also contained gifts such as note books, sweets, writing materials, cards and toys.