Karnataka - Bangalore

Parikrma, Adobe Systems to provide digital education to slum children

Staff Reporter

Parikrma provides 620 children from 26 slums with a development programme

BANGALORE: The Bangalore-based Parikrma Centre for Learning has entered into a three-year partnership with Adobe Systems to bring cutting edge digital technology to slum children at its centre located in Jayanagar here. Adobe's grant would be used to provide the latest digital education as well as provide multimedia communication tools to these children.

This technology, according to officials of Parikrma, will be used to deliver the English ICSE curriculum, which is being taught at the centre, in an interactive and creative manner.

"This supports Adobe's philanthropic strategy of bringing `Creativity in Education' to enable and inspire young children to harness their creativity and learn critical skills such as thinking creatively, communicating effectively and working collaboratively, using digital technology and communication tools," they said.

While interacting with the children and staff of Parikrma, Brue Chizen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Adobe Systems Inc., said community development was one of the firm's core values. "Our grant to Parikrma is to uphold and supplement the volunteering activities of our new employees in Bangalore who joined us by virtue of Macromedia's acquisition of Adobe," he said.

Parikrma provides 620 children coming from 26 slums a development programme built around the Circle of Life-Education (ICSE English), Nutrition (three meals a day), Healthcare and Family Care. Parikrma manages four Centres for Learning to deliver the programme.

On the tie-up with Adobe, Shukla Bose, Chief Executive Officer, Parikrma Centre For Learning, said giving children the opportunity to compete on equal terms with children from more privileged schooling was the only way to break their cycle of poverty and make them valuable contributing members of society.

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