Friday, February 27th, 2009 5:09 pm
Tags:Poonam Dhillon, Sophie Chaudhary, Suniel Shetty, Twinkle Khanna
In a scenario where majority of India’s children and young adults remain uneducated, it is heartening to know that there are responsible citizens who are willing to help the cause. Araaish, in aid of the ‘Save the Children India Foundation’ is a front runner in this cause.
Araaish was a one stop destination for spring summer shopping and was presented by Samira Habitats, co hosted by siblings Mana Shetty, Rahul Kadri and Isha Mehra as a tribute to their mother the late Mrs Vipula Kadri. This year it was held on 25 th February 2009 at Blue Sea, Worli.
As every year a lot of big names from the fashion industry have stepped up this time as well to support Araaish. Among them were Kokomo for bags, shoes and jewellery; Bea Accessories showcasing bags and shoes; Maheep Kapoor for Real Jewellery; Suhani Pittie and Aqua Marine displaying fashion jewellery; Indian wear by Hirkani and Ujwalla; clothes by Bhairavi Jaikishan, Trupsel, Gopi Vaid, Sabina Singh, Rohit & Rahul and Kavita Durazi . In addition to that they have also roped in Renu Bothra from the store ‘You’, Ensemble , Tina Tahiliani with a collection of t-shirts, Namrata Chandra for shoes. Other than that one will be able to shop for home accessories by Tara and J Studio plus furniture from Anu Khatwani. Shoppers can also look forward to diamond studded watches form Toy Watch and tunics and t-shirts from Mana and Isha’s latest collection.
Save the Children India also put up a stall with decorative products such as gift bags, batuas, festive stationery, wine bottle holders made by the adolescent girls.
Some of the celebrities who attended Araaish hosted by Mana Shetty, Rahul Kadri and Isha Mehra co hosted by Sameer Nerurkar and Alan Sippy of Samira Habitats were Twinkle Khanna, Suniel Shetty, Smita Thackeray, Anu Deewan, Queenie Dhody, Neerja Birla, Nawaz Singhania, Seema Khan, Bhavana Pandey, Madhoo Shah, Sophie Choudhary, Tanya Deol, A. D. Singh, Dr Abhijit Desai, Nitasha Nanda, Akansha Aggarwal, Sangita Kathiwada, Priyashri Patodia, Bejal Meswani,Lali Dhawan,Kavita Durazi ,Tanisha Mukherjee,Rashmi Uday Singh, Kaajal Anand,Nikasha,Nachiket Barve, Bonita Bulchandani,Pallavi Jaikishan,Deepika Gehani,Shaheen Abbas, ,Aarti Surendernath,Seema Mehrotra,Prerna Goel,Malini Agarwalla,Shazia Gowarikar, Gouri Pahoomul, Taseem Mehta,Jaya Raheja,,Shalini Shahani, Sheeba, ,Elina Meswani,Raell Padamsee, Shaan Khanna, Poonam Dhillon, Tisca Chopra , Rukshana Eisa, Nisha Jamwal, etc. Event was organized by Sharmilla Khanna. Wine food and music flowed in complete harmony all day towards the cause of Save the children India.
“Araaish is a cause that is very close to our hearts especially since it was founded by our mother. It has been a very emotional journey for us and it is fulfilling to know that our little endeavors can make a big impact on a deserving child’s life”, says Mana Shetty.
Said Isha Mehra, “Araaish is the perfect platform for the ‘haves’ of the society to extend a helping hand to the have-nots.”
Sharmilla Khanna who organized the event said, “The funds collected by Araaish help educate, support and empower the most vulnerable children providing them with education and life skills to sustain themselves. With every passing year we try making a significant difference to the lives of children and will continue doing so.”
“Araaish is a wonderful effort to give underprivileged children a chance to a normal childhood and I am glad to be supporting them”, said ace designer Tarun Tahiliani.
“I am happy to be associated with a noble cause like Araaish. We need more initiatives like them”, said Maheep Kapoor.
Sabina Singh rightly said “I applaud ‘Save the children’ and Araaish’s efforts to educate the future of our country.”
“Every thought and act of compassion makes a huge difference. So kudos to ‘Save the children’ and Araaish”, said designer-duo Rohit and Rahul Gandhi.
How You (The Participants, The Media And Shoppers Have Contributed.)
The success of Araaish has enabled Save The Children India to fulfill many a dreams…
Young Girls from the slum communities are now selling their products directly to the elite. This offers them an opportunity to develop skills which they would use to become self sufficient and self reliant in the challenging years ahead.
Araaish offers the elite, a unique and humane opportunity to connect with the less privileged which may not otherwise have been possible. Most shoppers have stopped by to shop at the Save the Children India stall at Araaish with decorative products made by the adolescent girls.
FACTS:
Araaish via Save the children offers employment to over 310 young girls. Has generated a turn over of over Rs 7 million with profits ploughed back for sustainability of the project. Turning insecuries and rejection into confidence and pride.
None of this could have been possible without your support
NOT charity, but EMPOWERMENT!!
About Samira Habitats
Samira Habitats is a niche real estate company promoted by the Samira Group to provide value added, bespoke products & solutions in the real estate sector. Samira Habitats aim to transform Alibag from a weekend getaway to a preferred residential destination with excellent facilities such as lifestyle residences, gated communities, IB schools, marinas, hospitals & golfing facilities etc.
About Save the Children, India
The late Mrs. Vipula Kadri founded Save The Children India in 1988, with an aim to serve children from the marginalized sections of society. Save The Children India has been tirelessly functioning in the field of child development and child rights since its inception and firmly believes in its conviction of making India a child friendly nation demonstrating this through its various innovative projects aiming at integrated child development. Save The Children India has been successful in achieving the desired results in the field of Education and Health at the same time, Save The Children India also has been a pioneer organization in launching a anti trafficking initiative through a network of civil society organizations at south Asia level.
Statistics for Aaraish
Indian Scenario:
In India, only 53% of habitation has a primary school.
50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school
More that 50% of India’s children are malnourished.
23% of India’s children are underweight at birth.
70 in every 1000 children born in India, do not see their first birthday.
One in every ten children is disabled in India.
High cost of private education and need to work to support their families and little interest in studies are the reasons given by 3 in every four drop-outs as the reason they leave.
While one in every five adolescent boys is malnourished, one in every two girls in India is undernourished.
74% of India’s children below the age of 3 months are anemic.
Source: 7th All India Education Survey, 2002
