CQ University and Salaam Baalak Trust celebrate partnership at Australian High Commission event in IndiaFri 16th January 2015
CQ University Australia and the Salaam Baalak Trust celebrated their continuing partnership at a special event held at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, on 16 January, 2015.
The event was an opportunity for the two organisations to celebrate and reflect on their achievements as part of their ongoing work with disadvantaged children in New Delhi.
The event also coincided with the conclusion of a two week CQ University study tour undertaken by a group of education and nursing students.
CQ University Australia’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman said that the work of the Salaam Baalak Trust is something that aligns well with the University’s ‘giving-back’ philosophy.
The Saalam Baalak Trust does some amazing work on the streets of New Delhi by providing disadvantaged children with a safe place to call home and an education that will help change their lives.
The work they do has meant that many children now have a better life and can advance into higher levels of education.
CQ University is extremely proud to partner with this amazing organisation and together we have established some wonderful programs including study tours for our education and nursing students and the fantastic City Walk program that involves SBT students taking tourists on guided walking tours through the streets of New Delhi.
Our scholarship program is also a fantastic example of how our partnership is delivering positive outcomes for children involved with Saalam Baalak, in fact a number of past students from the Trust are now attending or graduating from university in India.
"Our ongoing sponsorship of the Trust is something that CQ University is 100 per cent committed to and we look forward to being able to build upon our efforts in the future,” said Professor Bowman.
Funding delivered by the Australian Government has also helped boost the work of CQ University and Salaam Baalak in recent times, with the Department of Education’s Short-Term Mobility Project, contributing to CQ University students being able to visit India and Salaam Baalak as part of their degree.
Mr Alastair Dawson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International and University Services at CQ University said that the Short-Term Mobility Project not only assists CQ University students in completing an overseas study tour but also provides the Salaam Baalak Trust with much needed skilled resources during their time there.
It is not only a great experience for our students but is also great for the Trust, as those visiting get to assist in the classrooms and with running free nursing clinics.
Prior to their departure our students also run a number of fundraising activities that help them to purchase much needed supplies for the Trust.
“CQ University is definitely leading the way in developing programs that expose our students to life-changing experiences as part of their education,” said Mr Dawson.
In the year ahead, CQ University will be sending more groups of students to India to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust and will also engage with staff to continue corporate fundraising activities.
The event at the Australian High Commission was attended by representatives from CQ University, the Salaam Baalak Trust and the Australian Government.
