Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

It LOOKS amazing! The attractive display of the cover pages and the bold content makes it even more exciting. No sooner, we see a book; there is a craving to own it. The children of Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony rejoiced the fragrance of new books recently donated by senior leadership visiting India from AMEX-Financial Centre (East).

In a recent visit, Thomas S. Shilen, SVP Global Reporting and Deputy Controller, Keith Cornelius, VP Corporate Controllership and Kevin Grant along with the good citizenship team of Global Reporting and Accounting - East from the AMEX Group inaugurated the library at Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony. Books worth Rupees 15,000 notably crept to the existing infrastructure of Deepalaya School.

A prize distribution for the top achievers followed the inaugural. These moments will spur other children to strive for excellence as well.

To the children’s delight were the books ranging from encyclopedias’, general knowledge, storybooks and picture books. Among all the prominent ones were the Britannica Encyclopedias’. Also the general knowledge books and the tales of Panchatantra were among the best choice to the children. Besides adding up to their entertainment, the books will open new horizons and doors of knowledge for them.

Amid all the fun and the excitement, Thomas distinguished the efforts of Deepalaya as a ‘wonderful experience’. He says, “Thank you so much for sharing your school and students with me. Keep up the outstanding work you are doing. All the best ”. The laud energized the sense of service within the Deepalaya members.

Deepalaya, crossing innumerable milestones past 28 years, is working day in and out for a legitimate society especially focusing on the education of children. The chain of Deepalaya schools is the fruit of the hard work and intelligentsia of not one but many heads and hands put together.

The Sanjay Colony School is one of the six formal schools run by Deepalaya. The School reaches out to over 8000 children.. The addition of the books by American Express will strengthen the vision of Deepalaya for a self reliant and legitimate society.

The distinguished visitors shared some wonderful moments with the children in the school premises. On this ‘Outing with a Difference’, the traditionally welcome touched their hearts. Keith asserts, “This is so inspiring, I have loved the children enjoying their learning experience”. She further extends her best wishes to the Deepalaya family. The inaugural of the library also marked the felicitation of meticulous students for the last academic year by the foreign visitors.

AMEX and Deepalaya share an enduring bond for last five years. In this cherished relationship where the focus has always been on the development of children, AMEX has many times supported the dreams of Deepalaya. It first started with a big playground at the school premises followed by many other activities. Some valuable among them include giving warm clothes to children, taking them out on trips and tours (a visit to Nehru Planetarium was one of this kind), tree plantation, dental camps, solar powered streetlights at Deepalaya Gram, self employment initiative for women and setting of a computer center etc.

The children of Deepalaya School feel privileged as love and happiness surrounds them from all sides. Monideepa, principal of Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony welcomes the gesture of AMEX visitors, “We are very thankful to AMEX for their courtesy. The need of a library was long felt and now when it’s their children seem so eager and excited about it that cannot be expressed.”. She further adds,” Such steps by corporates benefit the children largely and in future, we are looking forward to more of such support”.

‘Books are the best friends’, very aptly said. May the colorful pages of the books brighten the lives of the children and enliven the relationship of American Express and Deepalaya.