KAPIL DEV AND SONAM KAPOOR INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE AT MAGIC BUS
KAPIL DEV AND SONAM KAPOOR INTERACT WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE DURING A MAGIC BUS ACTIVITY-BASED SESSION. IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN IS THE GLOBAL PARTNER OF THE LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD FOUNDATION
Laureus World Sports Academy Member Kapil Dev, a legend of Indian cricket, shared the leading role with Bollywood actress and IWC brand ambassador Sonam Kapoor as the pair celebrated the success of the Magic Bus programme in Mumbai, which is supported by Laureus.
Kapil Dev and Sonam Kapoor participated in a Magic Bus activity-based session at the District Sports Complex Dharavi (DSC) in Dharavi today, where they interacted with children and young people from the Magic Bus programme.
The Magic Bus India Foundation works with India’s poorest children and young people, taking them from a childhood full of challenges to a life in which they can earn a livelihood. It is one of the largest anti-poverty programmes in India, with 9,000 trained volunteer mentors helping more than 400,000 children. Laureus has been supporting Magic Bus since 2003.
The programme helps children to finish school and move on to vocational institutes or colleges, ultimately becoming taxpaying citizens. It also combats problems such as child marriage and child labour. Magic Bus children finish school up to Grade 12, while more than half of children in India drop out by Grade 10, at age 16.
IWC Schaffhausen is the Global Partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Earlier this year, the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” (Ref. IW393402) was launched, with some of the sales proceeds being used to support the foundation. Kapil Dev was one cricket’s greatest all-rounders.
When he retired in 1994, he had made 5,248 runs with an average of 31.05, and held the world record for the most wickets taken with 434 test wickets. He is now a Laureus Academy Member.
This is a great project that is breaking down barriers within communities and shows what sport can achieve. I would like to thank IWC, who have been raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation for so many years and helping us to make a difference to so many people’s lives.” IWC Ambassador Sonam Kapoor, one of India’s greatest actresses, has starred in many highly successful films and received several Filmfare Awards and National Film Awards.
She supports many charities including LGBTQ, Fight Hunger Foundation, Cuddles Foundation and Breast Cancer. She commented: “I am very happy to be here to support the wonderful work that Magic Bus does, especially what they do to try to change the lives of children and young people who still face a difficult future in some of our communities in India. Many of the children who have benefited come back and become volunteers and leaders for Magic Bus and help pass on their wisdom and experience to another generation.
It is projects like Magic Bus, with the support of Laureus, which can help to change the face of our country.” IWC Regional Brand Director Middle East, India & Africa, Luc Rochereau, said: “We are firm believers in the approach of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and proud to be able to support it as a global partner to raise awareness and support projects like Magic Bus, which help children face issues through sports.” Jayant Rastogi, CEO of Magic Bus, said: “We are grateful to IWC and Laureus for their continued support. We remain committed to our vision of taking every child and young person on a journey from childhood to livelihood and out of poverty, and partnerships like these make it possible for us to provide.
