NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ORIA LAUNCHES SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Secaucus, NJ -- The Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA) has announced its sponsorship of a school for young children in Bhadohi, one of India's largest and most important rug weaving regions. The ORIA's commitment begins this month and will continue for at least the next three years. It is but the first in a series of school sponsorships in rug weaving villages thoughout India and Pakistan that the ORIA plans to unveil in coming months.
Located in northcentral India, Bhadohi is one of the country's poorest and most illiterate regions. The new school will provide general education to approximately 200 children, aged 6-12, as well as free medical care, nourishing daily meals, text books and uniforms. Also included will be stipends to the families of these children, providing much needed financial assistance and incentives to enrollment. The program will be administered by Care and Fair, a non-profit humanitarian organization headquartered in Bhadohi. Care and Fair has established 13 other schools and medical facilities throughout the region.
According to ORIA Executive Director Lucille Laufer, the sponsorship program provides the ORIA an opportunity to meaningfully support International anti-child labor efforts. "The elimination of illegal child labor has become an issue of paramount importance to our organization. The school sponsorship program has the unanimous support of our membership, as we are united in our belief that tackling the problems of poverty and illiteracy -the root of illegal child labor-is the only realistic, long-lasting, workable strategy."
The ORIA, a 70 year old trade organization, joins a prestigious list of individual member company's-among them, many of America's leading rug importers-who have made similar commitments to educational programs designed to improve the education, health and welfare of impoverished children in weaving regions.
For more details please contact ORIA Executive Director Lucille Laufer at (201) 866-5054.