Parichay Foundation holds Kiah Fashion Show with Slum Girls

Parichay Foundation, a philanthropic organisation engaged in promoting Indian art and culture and bringing about economic and social upliftment for underprivileged in urban and rural slums of Odisha and Delhi was organised a one-of- its-kind fashion show with underprivileged girls in the capital.

The idea is to raise funds for its flagship project, ‘Alaknanda Scholarship Programme’ for drop-out girl students. Parichay Foundation, which has been felicitated by the President of India and recognised by the United Nations for its outstanding work, has been consistently working for empowerment of girls and women to ensure their sustainable development through its projects ever since it came into existence in November 2007.

The Kiah Fashion Show which has been held on 14th November on the occasion of the Children’s Day will make an effort to raise funds for this scholarship programme, which the foundation wants to take to a larger scale within the state in the years to come. In the first phase, Parichay has already received support from PGL Foundation in the city for the cause.

The fashion show witnessed eminent women personalities of the state including social worker Namrata Chadha, renowned singer and writer Adyasha Das, hurdle queen of India and Olympian Anuradha Biswal, eminent singer Susmita Das, homemaker and spiritual master Neelam Kandoi walking the ramp with the girls along with Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry.

Eminent socialite Shalini Mohanty, Director, Mayfair Pooja Ray, eminent odia television actress Usasi Mishra had also a part of the cause and will be present as judges during the event, which is being managed by Prelude. Designer dresses for the girls are being made by Harpreet Kalsi of Zovala fame, the fashion partner for the event while Junthi Hota from Headturners, Chandrasekharpur will give the girls a makeover, the salon being a styling partner for the event. Richa Ray, an aspiring fashion designer from a renowned design institute in the city has groomed the girls to walk the ramp.

The event has been conceptualised by Dikhya Tiwari, consultant to Parichay Foundation and a freelancer journalist, anchor and TV host. With so many women coming forward to support the cause, founder Rosalin Patsani Mishra is confident that this Children’s Day will be very special for Parichay Foundation.

The idea behind the fashion show is to ensure that girls from poor financial background also get the much-deserved chance to study and stand on their own feet. As these girls walk the ramp with confidence, they will not only feel special, they will also feel happy that their efforts on stage are helping girls like them get access to education through the Alaknanda Scholarship Programme.