Pendant launched to help raise literacy levels in India (From Asian Image)

Pendant launched to help raise literacy levels in India

5:12pm Wednesday 18th November 2009

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Over £100,000 was raised to help with literacy levels in India at a dinner and auction night.

The event also saw Pratham, an international charity that is dedicated to erasing illiteracy and helping under privileged children in India join forces with Jooal, a fine jewellery design boutique based in Mayfair to launch a new pendant.

They have created a stunning pendant keepsake to mark a new campaign: “Right to Read”.

The campaign supports Pratham in bringing literacy to India and to implement the charity’s mission of “every child in the country is in school and learning well”.

Of India’s 210 million children, almost half are unable to read.

Since 2008 Pratham has brought literacy to 33 million children living in rural areas in approximately 355,000 villages in India – that’s more than half of the population of the UK - and 350,000 children in 43 urban cities. However, there are still more than 80 million who cannot read or write.

The event, at chic hot spot Roka, London, was attended by 150 guests including Bianca Jagger, Yasmin Le Bon, Mark Shand, Donna Air, Danielle Lloyd along with Pratham's key donors and partners, high net worth philanthropists, fashionistas and socialites, leaders from the business and financial community in London, preeminent personalities and VIP’s.

The informal dinner and an auction was sponsored by Prafinieum, Mphasis, Tanaz Dizadji, Manuj Srivastava and Roka. Guests were kept entertained with comic capers by Shappi Khorsandi.

The auction raised just under £100,000 and items included a personalized, signed Jenson Button racing helmet, Audemars Piguet men’s watch – Royal Oak Timepiece, Men’s Collection, a bespoke trekking experience in Laddakh, India with leading mountaineer Mandip Singh Soin, Rubinacci, Napoli gentleman’s bespoke tailored suit, VIP Manchester United UEFA Champions League package, Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak Timepiece, Women’s Collection, a weekend away in Kerala and a private dining experience at award winning Zuma.

Jooal, renowned for their rare and exquisite coloured gemstone designs, has created pendants based on the Sanskrit letters of the alphabet, in keeping with the theme of literacy.

The Signature Collection features pendants set in white gold encrusted with diamond and the larger Limited Edition necklaces feature uniquely carved gemstones with white gold and diamond.

Proceeds from each pendant in the Signature Collection will fund a program to educate 180 children for an entire year in nine villages, or buy three Pratham libraries that will reach 450 children. One pendant could rescue 30 children from the street, work and exploitative conditions, or provide education, medical care and nutrition to a child from the streets for one year.

The pendants have been launched in-store and are available to order. Online purchasing will be available from 1 December, just in time for Christmas.

endants in the Signature Collection are priced at £390. Pendants from the Limited Edition Collection will vary from £1,500 – £5,000 depending on gemstones used and the amount of diamonds on each piece.

One exquisite bejewelled pendant funds 180 children in India for a year For more information please visit: www.pratham.org.uk

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