Several Catholic schools in Kolkata have joined a city-wide drive to collect used school books to help poor students get a better education.

“It’s a novel idea, and is educational in itself for well off children,” said Sister Molly Francis, principal of Loreto House School.

We’ve been collecting used books from students for several years to give to poor children and to a rural school in Thakurpukur, she said.

But this “is the first time that we’ve joined such a large scale campaign to reach out to under-privileged students.”

West Bengal Governor M. N. Narayanan launched the Kolkata campaign on Sept. 1.

It hopes to collect over 200,000 books from students in city schools, before it ends on Sept. 5.

The Aviva Great Wall of Education Project is the brainchild of insurance firm Aviva, who in association with a local newspaper is encouraging students to build a wall of books which will be donated to the needy.

The insurance company introduced the initiative last year to generate awareness on the importance of education and is taking it around India with the help of a prominent newspaper in each city.

Loreto House School says its students have so far donated more than 500 books to the project.

Chahat Gopalika, a ninth grader donated 20 books.

It’s good to know they are going to those who really need them, she said.

Jesuit-run St. Xavier’s Collegiate School in Kolkata has donated over 1,000 books and is actively supporting the campaign, said its prefect, Father James Sebastian.

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