Lala Lajpatrai Rotaract boosts public image
Here is a 15-year-old Rotaract club, RAC Lala Lajpatrai College, that has built up its brand identity through legacy projects which not only boosted its public image, but also “led to a strong bonding among district Rotaractors who look forward to take part in our events and flagship programmes,” said Taher Lokhandwala, past president, and director, Professional Development of RID 3141.
As a platform for the differently-abled, Project Astitva Ek Pehchaan (one’s identity) is a 10-year-old, week-long talent fest wherein students with disabilities are given opportunities to exhibit their extracurricular skills in singing, dancing, fine arts, sports, literary field and performing arts. It is being held in either October or November in partnership with NGOs and special homes. “Under this festival, a sports meet is held on a ground away from our college as we don’t have one on our campus. Paralympic games and athletics, blind cricket and other sports for people with disabilities are held with much fanfare,” said Lokhandwala. ‘Open Mic’ is filled with solo stage shows, group skits, poetry recital and other individual expressions of talent.
Rotaractors join hands with the participants to hold flash mobs at busy places like CSMT Railway station-Churchgate, Marine Drive etc to turn the spotlight on the diverse skills of the differently abled, while a souvenir bulletin, Astitva, which is a compilation of poems, short stories and other literary work of people with special needs is released at the literary event. “We also include drawing and paintings in this bulletin which is a sought-after book after the event gets over as it is a collector’s item.”
The organisers also visit the NGOs to hold special events for the disabled “who suffer from mobility restrictions and could not come out of their comfort zone. Since inception, Project Astitva would have touched the lives of at least 5,000 persons with disabilities.”
Under Project Ummedein (ray of hope), Adarsh Vidyalaya, a government high school in Utavali village in Palghar district, was adopted by the club four years ago with the “aim to give their children a new perspective that will enrich them with skillsets required for a successful life,” said club president Nirbhay Oberai. Multiple workshops and sessions are held on menstrual hygiene, good touch, bad touch and cleanliness, while motivational classes aim to develop skillsets for students to flourish in their career, he said.
Special counselling is given to students of Class 9–10 on how to excel in their public exams with right preparation and mindset. “Rotaractors visit children at their homes in Utavali village to convince parents to allow them pursue higher education. Every year, around 400 children from Class 4–10 are benefitted, and in the last four years, we would have motivated 1,600 students at this rural school,” recalled Oberai. Last year, an electric bell (`7,000) was installed and a library (`10,000) was set up at the school as a fillip to its infrastructure.
Bombay Culture
As a public image project, Bombay Culture is celebrated during World Rotaract Week (March 1–7) with a plethora of events like fun trip of around 60 Rotaractors to “bond among ourselves and enjoy the day out,” followed by a heritage walk for 2km in which around 40 walkers rediscover some of the historic places in Mumbai.
A community service is part of Bombay Culture in each edition of this flagship event which includes a visit to old age homes and special NGOs “where we donate bedsheets, mattresses and pillows to the inmates.” Last year, they visited the Salvation Army Old Age Home and donated sleeping mats and bedsheets. It is customary to honour people who had done ‘selfless service’ at the Hall of Fame event at the college auditorium, and last year “we felicitated 30 tireless workers including dabbawallas, policemen and ex-servicemen.”
Local rappers and folk singers in regional dialects slug it out in a tough competition to win prizes as “their innate skills are recognised opening new avenues of growth for them.” Billboards are erected to showcase Rotaract during the week-long events. “Last year our hoarding at Bandstand, a busy spot in Mumbai, lifted our public image among the Mumbaikars,” said Oberai, a final year student of BA (MMC). He thanked RC BomBombay Culturebay Mid-Town, their parent Rotary, for “being helpful whenever we approached them for guidance or mentorship of service projects.”
On his three-year Rotaract journey, he said “I was a shy person with a very few friends before I turned a Rotaractor. Now I have a huge network of friends and am confident to speak at a large gathering. Thanks to Rotaract, I learnt a few management skills which will aid my career growth, and am looking forward to become a Rotarian.”
His Rotaract friend Lokhandwala is into the seventh year in Rotaract and a visiting faculty at private schools in Mumbai for communication skills,
“I wanted to continue my Rotaract journey in Rotary too with same passion and enthusiasm. After I finished my course at Lala Lajpat Rai College, I have joined the Rotaract Club of Churchgate,”
he added.
