Heart Foundation, a Navi Mumbai based NGO, in association with the International NGO, Fleet Forum, launched Road Safety Education program for the students of 6th, 7th and 8th standards at ten schools in Jogeshwari, Mahim & Matunga from 4th to 8th July 2016 respectively.
The seven-week activity-based training program aimed at spreading awareness about pedestrian and travelling safety among children aged between 12 and 14 years.
During the launch at St. Mary High School, Jogeshwari, the Chief Guest, Senior Traffic Police Inspector Mr. Nitin Yadav, while stressing on the importance of following road safety rules said: “People need to be responsible for their own safety. Unless that happens, the road accident rate is unlikely to come down. It is important to inculcate road safety rules right from childhood.”
Talking at the launch, Mr. Vivek Sinha, Project Manager, Fleet Forum said that safety is one of the top priorities for the School. He said, “Fleet Forum realises that students are the best messengers to spread road safety awareness in the society. This is the reason why we have designed a road safety program for students of this age group”
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The dignitaries launched workbooks that are going to be used for training. The launch also included a Solidarity Walk in which students held placards with road safety slogans and took out a rally on the road.
“This is the third consecutive year where we have been able to teach around 2400 students in 24 schools of Navi Mumbai, Mulund, Thane, Jogeshwari, Mahim & Matunga. The trainers are basically underprivileged youth from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai whom we have trained and they will be teaching these students. We explain to the students on how to be safe, follow traffic rules and through that they can save their lives and of others too” said Dr. Jayakar Ellis, President, Heart Foundation.

“The seven
-week awareness programme will educate students on road safety practices through the Active Learning Methodology. This experiential learning technique involves an array of educative activities, such as skits, case studies, discussions, audio/visual sessions and role plays” said Ravinder Lal, Project Coordinator, Heart Foundation who had lost his toes in a road mishap.
Mrs. Prabha Kasturi, Principal, St. Mary High School said: “The role of student in Road safety is very important and we are so elated to have this type of training for our students. We also assure that we will continue to teach the other students in our school too”.

Maya Khade, trainer said “I am so excited to be part of this unique Road Safety Training program and hope to inculcate these safety values in these students”.
The week long road safety program was launched at Swami Vivekanand High School (Eng.), St Mary’s High School, Balvikas Vidya Mandir, RJMD English School, Divine Light High School (Eng.), Guru Nanak English High School, Infant Jesus High School & Saraswathi Vidya English & Marathi High School. The training would be done by Maya, Vidya, Ravinder and Bhanudas.