Rotary Club of Bombay initiative for civic schools students to hold first alumni meet

As a student enrichment programme for underprivileged children studying in civic schools of the city, Bhavishya Yaan — a philanthropic initiative of the Rotary Club of Bombay (RCB) with academic partner Vidya — will hold its first alumni meet on February 10, the day it turns 15-years-old.

Started in 2009, Bhavishya Yaan, which was also called Mission to a Bright Future, was aimed at imparting education in spoken English, computer skills and life skills for students of municipality schools. It began in one municipal school in Worli by setting up an air-conditioned computer room and was soon extended to six other civic schools. The students were also exposed to knowledge in other ways such as talks from inspiring personalities from different walks of life, visits to prominent places etc.

Alok Sekhsaria, one of the three individuals who launched the programme, said, “It was hoped that after retaining the students and getting them to pass their school board exams they could be gainfully employed in the booming retail sector. Apart from spoken English and computer and life skills, the students also had to learn how to dream. They wanted to go to college. The RCB organised a scholarship fund to help them through their higher education. In fact, even after they completed their education and got good jobs, they were exposed to a unique Equine Youth Leadership programme, and they had several interactions with authors, monks and responsible cinema actors who gave them life lessons.”