Awaaz do
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
 Awaaz do logo | |
| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Type | Online campaign |
| Legal status | Active |
Parent organization | UNICEF International |
Awaaz Do (English translation: Speak up) is an initiative taken by UNICEF to mobilize Indian society to speak up for the more than eight million children currently out of school in the country. Awaaz do is primarily an online campaign with focus on empowering citizens to get actively involved and demand right for children. The idea behind the campaign is to help more than eight million children in the country, who are currently out of school, and to provide them formal education.[1]
Launched in 2010, the campaign has received support from citizens through online social campaign with more than 250 thousand registrations on the official website[2][3] and from government and corporate organizations with several corporate and media houses partnering with UNICEF for the cause. Priyanka Chopra, UNICEF celebrity ambassador, and Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource Development, have signed up as an Awaaz Do champions to garner support for the campaign.[4]
The passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 has made education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of six and fourteen and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools.[5] Still, an estimated eight million children (6 to 14 years) in India were out-of-school in 2009.[6][7]
Launch
The campaign is being launched by UNICEF, with the support of the Government of India. "Awaaz Do" means "Speak Up" in Hindi and is symbolized by a megaphone logo. The Awaaz Do on-line campaign was launched on October 19, 2010. At the launch, Urmila Sarkar, UNICEF's Chief of Education said[8]
- "UNICEF is working with the Government of India to outline a roadmap for implementing RTE at the national and state level. However, the success of this act is also largely dependent on collective action. The Awaaz Do campaign is a platform for the combined voices of the government, the corporate world, the media and individuals to become an undeniable force to ensure every child is in school."
Vision
The initiative is all about the power of words that can help change the lives of 8 million children who are not in school yet.[9] The online Awaaz Do campaign aims at use of technology and social networking that allows citizens to get actively involved and demand the rights for children who are excluded and marginalized. Unicef India representative, Karin Hulshof said about the vision of Awaaz do campaign[10]
- "Awaaz Do is an online campaign to create awareness about the RTE Act. The landmark passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, (as the RTE Act is also known as) marks a historic moment for the children of India."