For Children’s Day, BALCO Inspires Young Minds with a Community Book Festival
Balconagar, 14th November 2024 – Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, is hosting a 7-day long book festival in Korba to celebrate Children’s Day. This initiative is a part of BALCO’s ‘Project Connect’ education program, organized in partnership with Vidya Bhawan Society and reflects BALCO’s dedication to advancing education and literacy in the region. Open to children, families, and book enthusiasts of all ages, the festival invites the community to experience the transformative power of literature. Running until November 17, 2024, it offers a vibrant environment where children can explore new interests, strengthen critical reading skills, and cultivate a passion for reading. Over the past 3 days, the festival has attracted more than 1200 attendees, highlighting the strong community engagement.
The book festival seeks to provide an enriching experience for young minds and instill a lifelong love for reading. With over 2000 diverse books, the event includes interactive storytelling sessions, engaging workshops, and educational toys tailored to children’s varied interests. Alongside the extensive book collection, the festival offers engaging reading sessions, discussions with authors, vocabulary-building and math-focused numeracy activities to spark curiosity and shared learning. Adding to the interactive atmosphere, there are educational games and activities for children and parents to enjoy together, creating a family bonding experience while developing critical thinking and creativity.
Commenting on the event, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director of BALCO, said, “At BALCO, we’re committed to fostering holistic development for the youth in our communities. Our Children’s Day Book Festival is more than a celebration of reading, it’s a joyful gathering that strengthens family and community bonds. Through Project Connect, we are elevating educational standards in Korba, laying the groundwork for a more promising future, creating meaningful pathways to empower the next generation.”
Mr. Ramhari Sharaff, Principal of the District Institute of Education (DIET), speaking on the event’s inauguration, said, “Events like these are a powerful source of inspiration for children, fostering a deep love for learning that guides their future journeys. BALCO’s Children’s Day celebration, through this innovative book festival, is equipping children with the essential tools and resources to help them thrive.”
Ms. Asha, a resident of Korba, who attended the book festival, shared, “It’s heartening to see such an event in our community. My daughter is excited to explore new books, and I am thrilled to witness her developing a love for reading. This festival is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn, grow, and ignite their imaginations.”
BALCO’s ‘Project Connect’ is aimed at enhancing the educational outcomes for students in grades 6 to 8 in 6 government schools in Korba. The initiative supports foundational literacy and numeracy in these grades, and focuses on SEMA subjects—Science, English, Mathematics, and Accountancy for grades 9 to 12. With activity-based learning and additional learning hours, it aims to foster student engagement and improve academic performance. Since its inception, Project Connect has benefited over 2,500 students, providing career counseling, teacher training, and enrichment activities like summer and winter camps and reading melas. By creating a holistic learning ecosystem, Project Connect shapes confident, capable learners in the Korba community.
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 51% by Vedanta Limited and 49% by the Government of India. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
About Vedanta Limited
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award 2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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