Yadhumanaval, the programme to empower girls, particularly in the smaller towns and villages of India by PDG V R Muthu, RID 3212, has picked up traction and is being implemented in other districts with help from Muthu, his club RC ­Virudhunagar and his ­Yadhumanaval team led by a retired professor of ­English and motivational speaker Jayanthasri Balakrishnan.

A week-long Project Hasi (smile) by 23 Rotaract clubs in RID 3240 at the start of new Rotary year from July 1 created an air of camaraderie among the youth brigade of Rotary in the northeastern region of India. “Around 170 gift boxes were distributed to poor children living in slum colonies and underprivileged areas from north West Bengal to regions across the northeastern states of India which brought smile on their faces,” says Dipujjal Das, project secretary, Rotaract District 3240.

All roads will lead to ­Insportz Arena, ­Whitefield, in ­Bengaluru for two days (Jan 25–26) as Rotaractors of RID 3192 have pulled all the stops to make Rotaract Sports Mania a thumping success. “All our 1,500-plus members across 60 Rotaract clubs can take part in track and field events, indoor games, cricket and football tournaments at the sports meet that will showcase the athleticism and spirit of our Rotaractors,” said DRR Surya Kiran.

In a room filled with children softly gliding their pencils over paper at the Yuktha Charitable Trust, an orphanage in Bengaluru, Prathap, a

An inter-school arts competition for school students in Thane has given a platform for young talent to display their skills in a range of crafts under Project Hooner (skill in Hindi) being conducted by RAC Thane North, RID 3142, for the last 25 years. “The art competition is our flagship project earning us goodwill and boosting our public image among schools in Thane,” says club president Siddhesh Naik.

RAC Mumbai Mulund South, RID 3141, gathered at club secretary Ruchi Bheda’s house early in the ­morning  with aprons on, ready to cook up a giant batch of Pav Bhaji for Project Dabbawalla, an initiative to distribute nutritious meals to individuals in the Khindipada slum in Mumbai. The team assigned roles — chopping, stirring, seasoning etc. “And soon the air was filled with the aroma of tomatoes, spices and butter. Some members took on the role of taste-testers and got playfully competitive over who could make the bhaji taste just right,” smiles Ruchi.

Around 150 young girls were the centre of attraction at the VR Punjab Mall in Kharar as they shopped for new clothes to their heart’s content at one of the posh boutiques there.

This Holi was special for the 250 children residing at the S K Foundation, an NGO in Janakpuri, New Delhi

A young entrepreneur decided to form a new Rotaract club in Delhi  after he convinced around 15 Rotaractors who had either quit a club or looking for a new group to share their like-minded views and ideas to join his brainchild. “Earlier I used to be in a community-based club, but members started leaving to join other district clubs for personal and other reasons,” recalls Rajat Kapoor, charter president, RAC Delhi Dynamic Leaders, RID 3011.

Children are the focus of the 35-year-old RAC Dahisar Coast, RID 3141, a community-based club in the northernmost suburb of Mumbai.