More than a competition
In a room filled with children softly gliding their pencils over paper at the Yuktha Charitable Trust, an orphanage in Bengaluru, Prathap, a 10-year-old boy, intently sketched the iconic Dali mask, famously worn by the robbers in Money Heist, a Spanish TV series. While he has not watched the Netflix series, he has seen short reels on Instagram and YouTube that captured his imagination. He and the other children were sketching and drawing different objects for Chinnara Chillipili, a talent competition organised by RAC Atria IT, RID 3191.
Vaishnavi D P, the club president says “The children were incredibly talented. With just a pencil, paper and eraser, they created artwork like true artists,” and adds that the club provided each child with a stationery kit for the competition.
The club also held singing and dancing contests to “spark creativity and bring joy to children whose daily lives often lack excitement.” Each child had 30 seconds to perform their favorite song in the singing segment. “From Bollywood hits to local tunes, the room soon filled with energetic voices and contagious laughter,” recalls Vaishnavi. One standout performance was Kaathu Mela, a popular Tamil song, that turned into an impromptu sing-along with both the children and Rotaractors joining in. “It was such a heartwarming moment. We were all united by music and fun,” she laughs.
At the end of the competitions, every child received chocolates, while the winners were awarded trophies. Prathap, who had sketched the Dali mask, proudly took home the art competition trophy. “I didn’t expect to win, but I’m thrilled. I will keep practising and learning new techniques,” he says. “For the children, the event was a chance to showcase their talent and feel acknowledged. For the Rotaractors, it was a reminder that some of the most meaningful experiences come from simple acts of creativity, laughter and connection,” smiles Vaishnavi.
But Chinnara Chillipili didn’t end with the competition. “We wanted to showcase the children’s artwork to club members, mentors, friends and Rotarians,” she says. The club decided to create a 2025 calendar featuring all the children’s drawings. The competition was held on Aug 24, and by the time of the club’s installation on Sep 14, the calendars were ready. They were gifted to all the guests at the installation. “This gift felt personal and authentic. It wasn’t just about the drawings… it carried the memory of a day that celebrated creativity, joy, and brought us all closer together,” she recalls.
