In April 2015, Avolon committed €10,000 towards the cost of expanding an educational day centre in Kolkatta, India managed by the Associazione Balò Onlus.

In April 2015, Avolon committed €10,000 towards the cost of expanding an educational day centre in Kolkatta, India managed by the Associazione Balò Onlus. The new premises will allow Balò Onlus to expand its services in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Kolkatta, India.

The Associazione Balò Onlus has been involved with a day centre for children in Mistry Lane in Kolkatta, India since its inception in 2005. The focus of Balò Onlus is educational, providing English language classes, homework clubs and computer classes for children aged between 3 and 14 from underprivileged families of several religious denominations in local private schools. Balò provides for all of the educational needs of the children in its care. The work is done by Italian volunteers and local workers who are trained to follow the Balò values of equality, non-discrimination and respect which Balò adopts with the children and all the people with whom it comes into contact.

The organisation also runs a needlework and sewing class for young girls from the community whose produce are sold in Italy, providing them with an income and allowing them to delay marriage beyond their teens. This makes a huge difference to in their lives and gives them the confidence to take control of their futures. In 2013, Balò set up a kindergarten school and most recently hired a doctor which attends to the children and their families for a few hours each week. To date, more than 150 children and their immediate families have benefited from the services of Balò.

For additional information on Associazione Balò Onlus, please visit http://www.balo.it/en/