Mysore: On the occasion of World Literacy Day – Pushing child illiteracy backwards, literally, youth volunteers of non-profit child empowerment organisation Make-A- Difference (MAD) flagged off a ‘back-a-thon’ across 20 Indian cities on Monday September 8.
A back-a-thon, unlike the more popular marathon, is an event in which participants walk backward in a uniform fashion. More of a social gathering than a sporting event, the backward walk signifies an intent to push back deteriorating social values; which in this case is the growing level of illiteracy plaguing the country.
A number of child education activists, like-minded citizens and students were a part of the back-a-thon.
The venue for the same had been selected keeping public and traffic conveniences in mind. It was flagged off at 5.30 pm from Mysore Tarpaulins, Devaraj Urs Road and concluded at JLB road, Mysore. Over 170 participants walked the backathon to support the cause in Mysore.
About MAD
Make-A-Difference empowers children living in orphanages and street shelters to discover their true strengths and unleash their full potential.
Volunteer profiles range from Ed Support Teachers (who work with a class of ten children and teach English, Maths and Science), Propel Volunteers (who counsel and guide children for a right career), Discover Volunteers (who conduct activities to broaden the career horizons of children) to Fundraising interns (who raise funds to support education for children).
At present, across 23 cities in India, around 2000 volunteers reach out to 5000 children living in shelter homes.
MAD is the winner of the Ashoka Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition 2008, and was nominated as the best Medium Category NGO in the Indiya Shines initiative organized by GreatNonProfits.com in 2009.
MAD is also a Noble Laureate of the Karamveer Puraskar awarded by ICongo and finds appreciation as a global fellow of YouthActionNet, Cordes Fellow 2010 and the winner of Dasra Peer Capital.
MAD was further awarded the World Summit Youth Award last November and was named ‘Leader in Volunteer Engagement’ by iVolunteer.
