XHAUDHVIN KA CHAND' OVER CITY SLUM

Waheeda Rehman and Akshara Foundation chief Rohini Niiekani spend time with sium children on Thursj^ay— Express photo Off to school, with Waheeda Rehman ■ Legendary actress joins Primary and High School in ters, garage mechanics and tea adopted the Urdu school, where it Devara Jeevanahalli slum sport­ shop-owners from the age of four conducts special classes for pri­ hands with Akshara ed a festive look for the occasion, or five. “Sometimes I know some mary students. Akshara chair­ Foundation to open new packed with eager onlookers, children have no other options person, Rohini Niiekani, urged world for slum children curious children and parents. but to work. But a few hours of “ men to take interest in their chil­ “lam happy seeing many ofyou school can ensure that they know dren’s future and send them to Express News Service in school, but not completely, as their rights and are not exploited school.” there just as many of you outside by those they work for,” Wahee-' Rohini and Waheeda also spent Bangalore, July 31 the school,” said the actress, add­ da said. time with pre-schoolers in one of ressing both the children and th- Schooling, she promised. the many playhomes being run T was a rare day in Banga­ by the Foundation. The Govt lore’s largest slum. Visiting a , ‘Woiddn'tyouliketobecome actress like me, or an Urdu Model School was adopted Ischool at the end of a narrow actor like Aamir Khan or Fardeen Khan?’ by the Shariff Foundation, last muddy lane was one of Bolly­ year, which works in tandem wood’s most accomplished efrparents. “I hear some of the gi­ would open new doors, possibili­ with the Akshara Foundation actresses of all time - Waheeda rls are not allowed to attend sch­ ties and ensure children a better and Akshaya Patra Foundation. Rehman. ool. We must remember that the life. “You can choose to be any- Contributions of Rs 500 for a . The actress for whom the mem­ Koran has said both men and wo­ thingyou want to be... a doctor, an child or Rs 10,000 for a year can orable song Chaudhvin ka chand men should be educated,” she engineer, or a, film artist. Would­ support Akshara Foundation’s ho is said to have been written, said, to the largely Muslim gath­ n’t youTike to.-become a actress remedial education centre here. played her new role of urging ering. like me, of an actor like Aamir Contact Col Rajan, Akshara children of city slums to discover Many children of the D. J. HaUi Khan*or Fardeen Khan?” she Foimdation, Govt Kannada High schools “ and a whole new life. slum, as it is called, are forced to said, to the giggling students. School, M.M. Road, Sarvagna The Government Urdu Model work as assistants with carpen­ Akshara Foundation has Nagar, Cox Town, Bangalore.