SHILLONG: The Avenues, a city-based NGO, recently held its winter workshop graduation programme for around 200 children.
From December to January, Avenues with the help of NGOs and youth organisations identified as many as 150 children from underprivileged families to participate in the sponsored winter camps.
The final Sponsored Winter Camps batch concluded with participants from Nongrim Hills converging at the Avenues Shillong centre along with participants of the 16th annual winter workshops.
Eleven students were sponsored through a unique initiative organised in collaboration with local clothing and baby accessories brand, ‘La Bebe’ in association with the Nongrim Hills Dorbar Shnong.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukesh Bahirvani, proprietor of La Bebe, lauded Avenues’ efforts and encouraged the participants to believe in their dreams and commit to their families.
The children performed recitals and others activities.
“Collaboration between private enterprises, capacity building agencies and local youth organisations are the best way forward for youth development in the state,” said Avenues MD Mark Laitflang.
It may be mentioned that a number of organisations have come together to collaborate with this initiative bringing a range of beneficiaries such as the orphans and children from the Ferrando Transit Shelter Home and God’s Dream Home by the Khasi Students’ Union, children from Pynthorumkhrah brought by the Pynthorumkhrah Parish Catholic Youth Wing, Sohra sponsored by Jiva Resort, the children of St. John Bosco Higher Secondary School, Sohra and Grassroot, Shillong.
A number of private sponsors were also engaged in the culmination of the winter camps.
