6 for education!
Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer join Nita Ambani in reaching education to
underprivileged and disadvantaged kids
Sometimes you can score in cricket without picking a bat and
walking onto the crease; before you spin the ball and send a thunderbolt
streaking down the wicket; and, even while the covers are still on the grass
and the teams are dressing up. All it takes is a cause, your belief in it, and
the willingness to give of yourself to further that cause. That’s what Nita Ambani has started doing this
week, scoring for her IPL team the
Mumbai Indians, even though the third season of the popular Twenty20 tournament
is still a cool 17 days away. And this Nita’s doing not for Messrs.
Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan & Co.,
but for underprivileged kids of five NGOs that she is supporting through an
initiative called ‘Education For All’. It was launched across national
television channels on Sunday. Of course, Sachin,
Bhajji and Zaheer are part of the
initiative, they all appear in 15-second commercials for the cause, but the
real stars of this Mumbai Indians promo are the children who make an endearing
appearance with Nita at the end.
Look out for it, you will know what I mean.
As to how Nita intends taking her cause to the masses, it’s
simple. Just like American cycling legend Lance Armstrong did for cancer
victims in 2004, the Mumbai Indians is selling blue silicone wristbands signed
by Tendulkar and other greats from the team that say ‘Education For All’. Every
band sold will mean some amount of money goes towards the NGOs Pratham, Ummeed, Akanksha, Teach For India and Nanhi Kali that
do exemplary work in educating underprivileged children. The sale proceeds will
be matched by a contribution from the Mumbai Indians’ kitty. Nita is counting
on the huge fan base her team has across the country to boost the sales, but
since it is for a charitable cause, all benevolent Indians supporting other IPL
teams are expected to pitch in and buy the bands as well. “It’s a small and
humble effort,” said Nita who believes education is the key that unlocks the
potential of every child. She must know, she was a school teacher once, and now
she runs the
“One of
“It will be such fun, imagine Zaheer bowling to the kids!
Cricket is so unusual, it unifies everybody, and the kids know so much about
the game — I’m surprised,” she said in
an interaction with children from the five NGOs over a game of cricket in a
Cuffe Parade garden. “Who is
Source: Times of
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