Close to heart

“Prerna has become one of our highlight projects as it touches everyone’s heart. The theme this year is education. The idea is to make these children have fun as well as learn something in the process,” says coordinator Rikin Sukhtankar. It is one of the several projects undertaken by the club with community service at the heart of its initiatives.

Rotaract is a worldwide organisation of young men and women aged 18 to 30,spanning 158 countries,while the Rotaract Club of HR College is a youth wing of the Rotary Club of Bombay.

Badlaav,a project launched around five months ago,has 16 student volunteers from the club visiting Marathi-medium night schools and teaching the students — many from less privileged backgrounds — to converse in English. “The volunteers are trained in what goes into teaching these children. Most of these children are studying in classes VIII,IX and X. We attempt to make learning a fun. We also conduct English language tests,” says club president Romeeta Sukhtankar.

Subsequently,these students will be enrolled for Each One,Teach One — a government project that offers six months’ training — once they pass out of class X. “This will ensure placements for these children in places like malls. We are trying to raise funds for their training too,” Romeeta says. “Taking this initiative further,we have also launched a helpline (9833004441) so that anyone who wants to enroll their child to a night school can get in touch with us.”

The club also organises events for the underprivileged on occasions like Diwali,Holi or Christmas. There are also events aimed at enhancing the skills of special children. Rang De is one such concept that sees streetchildren or physically challenged children competing in a drawing event. Some of the artwork is subsequently framed and auctioned,and the funds collected are given to these children to support their education.

Roobaroo,yet another unique project,launched last year saw parents of club members getting a taste of the kind of community work their children are involved in. “Parents will get to spend time and interact with children from an orphanage on March 6 this year. The idea is to make the day special for these children,” Romeeta says.

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