Tomorrow’s Foundation, Kolkata, an organization which has become a pioneer in its anti-tobacco drive at the grass-root level, conducted Child Cabinet Conference on Feb 25, at the Barisha Purbapara High School. Students from Skills@school project, were felicitated. The motto of the whole initiative was to encourage the students in building a better future and a sustainable livelihood.
This initiative is a continuation of the ‘Tobacco Control Programme’, which was launched way back in September 2017. Under the Project Super Army, more than 6,500 students of Class VII, VIII, IX of 32 schools of Kolkata under Total Literacy Mission (Sarva Siksha Mission) have been duly motivated and trained in the best interests of the society.
There is no denying the fact that Tomorrow’s Foundation has been committed toward focusing upon marginalized children of Kolkata within the age group of 14-17 years who are highly susceptible to tobacco consumption. Along with Tobacco Control Programme, the NGO has stressed on school-based programmes, including vocational training. Mumbai-based Salaam Bombay Foundation has been of great support to this noble cause.
The mode of functioning of Tomorrow’s Foundation deserves much applaud. The primary target has always been to inculcate the seeds of ambition and leadership qualities among children within the target group. Not only that, the NGO has opted a holistic approach so that these marginalized families are effectively included in the whole initiative. As of now, the organization has been successful in rebuilding life skill and refusal skills among the target group. It goes without any mention that ‘refusal skill’ is very vital in the Tobacco Control Programme at an individual level. In fact, Project Super Army has been fully committed to creating mass awareness among peers, family, and adjacent areas in motivating a complete ‘No’ to Tobacco. Already, each of these schools have been identified and declared as ‘Tobacco Free’ schools where the Project Super Army has played a pivotal role.
Along with Project Super Army, Project Resume has also been an effective approach which has equipped the students through vocational training in schools with adequate knowledge and skills on various subjects including Computer Hardware, Graphics Designing, Mobile Repairing, Robotics, Jewellery Designing and Beautician courses. In near future, the holistic approach of Tomorrow’s Foundation is considered to be integral in creating sustainable employment opportunities of the students from marginalized sections of the society.
