Lavasa and Christel Sign Management Agreement to Set Up School at Lavasa
Second Christel House Learning Centre to Open at Lavasa after Bangalore Learning Centre to provide education for underprivileged children
Tweet-- Reaffirming its commitment to the cause of the underprivileged, Lavasa Corporation recently signed a management agreement with Christel House India to set up a Learning Centre at Lavasa hill city. To be known as Christel House Lavasa, the Learning Centre will be operational in April, 2010 and will offer quality education to children from underprivileged backgrounds starting with primary school and expanding to secondary school in the next few years. Under the terms of the agreement, Christel House will operate and manage the school, while Lavasa will construct and design the school and underwrite the operating expenses. Christel House India already operates a Learning Centre in Bangalore which currently provides education to 885 children.
“In Christel House we have found a partner whose approach to the education of the underprivileged is holistic and unique. Their firm belief that education can break the cycle of poverty resonates with our commitment to improving the quality of life of the community around Lavasa,” said Rajgopal Nogja, President, Lavasa Corporation Limited. Promoted by the Hindustan Construction Company, Lavasa is strongly committed to enhancing the living standards of the local community and making them self reliant. Christel House Lavasa will cater to the needs of children of the underprivileged working on-site at Lavasa as well as children of communities around Lavasa. It will co-exist with some of the most reputed national and international educational institution names at Lavasa including Oxford University, Girl’s Day School Trust (UK), Symbiosis Institute, NSH Knowledge Campus, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland, Institute of International Business Relations (IBR) and Christ University thus providing an undifferentiated environment and the best of educational and extracurricular activities for its children.
“The achievements of our children at Christel House Bangalore demonstrate how access to education and opportunities can unleash tremendous potential in children no matter what background they come from,” said Raju Shahani, Executive Advisor, Christel House India. “We are grateful that Lavasa has come forward with this opportunity to build a second Christel House in India and we are committed to replicating our success at Lavsa.” Over the years, Christel House Bangalore which caters to families with monthly incomes of Rs 3500/ per month and which has a 2% drop out rate, has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions. Its first batch of Xth standard students earned for the school a 97% pass percentage, much above the state average. Christel House operated five Learning Centres across the world.
Christel House Lavasa which will have English as the medium of instruction will provide free education, nutritious food, counseling, healthcare and transportation to children. The education curriculum will follow the comprehensive standards and expectations set forth in the Christel House Policy and Operations Manual. It will replicate its model of tying up with well known institutions in the area to ensure that it adheres to the highest standards of nutrition and healthcare. A unique aspect of Christel House is that parents are also involved in the education of their child and are asked to volunteer time at the school for a fixed period every year through maintaining the gardens, helping with the kitchen or the school laundry and so on.
Lavasa, promoted by the Hindustan Construction Company, is being developed as a hill city with an optimum size of 12,500 acres and a self-sustaining economy of its own. It is based on hospitality, tourism and leisure on the one hand and education, research and business innovation on the other. Lavasa hosts a complement of global leaders in hospitality, tourism, education, healthcare, business research and industry. The hill city provides contemporary yet timeless architectural designs, multiple options for housing and state-of-the-art infrastructure and amenities, thus enabling people to live life in full.
Notes to Editor
About Lavasa:
Lavasa is free India’s first and largest hill city being developed by HCC (Hindustan Construction Company) where people can Live, Work, Learn and Play in harmony with nature. A complete new town, based on the principles of New Urbanism, it is fast being developed amidst 12,500 acres of land, 3 hours' drive from Mumbai and 1 hour from Pune. Lavasa will host a complement of global leaders in hospitality, tourism, education, healthcare, business research and industry. The hill city provides contemporary yet timeless architectural designs, multiple options for housing and state of the art infrastructure and amenities, thus enabling people to live life in full. For more information, visit www.lavasa.com.
About Christel House
Founded in 1998 by Christel DeHaan, Christel House International builds and operates high social-impact learning centers, in impoverished neighborhoods, which provide quality education, nutritious meals, regular health care, life skills training and character development, as well as parent and community outreach. Christel House has to date set up schools in Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa, Indianapolis and India. The Christel House Learning Center in Bangalore which was set up in 2001 currently has 885 children (453 boys and 432 girls) enrolled from kindergarten to Grade XI. Over the years, the Christel House Learning Center, Bangalore has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions and has earned for itself a highly credible reputation.