Cyber safety, and celebrating sanitation workers & elderly

With cyber threats on the rise globally, RAC Ahmedabad Midtown, RID 3055, launched Cyber Shield 2.0, a month-long social media campaign educating citizens about digital safety. The initiative aimed to tackle alarming statistics: every 39 seconds a cyberattack occurs globally, and more than three billion phishing emails are sent daily.

“We wanted to help people understand that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem, it’s a personal safety issue,” says Supan Shah, the project lead. “By sharing simple tips on how to spot phishing scams, create strong passwords, and use two-factor authentication, we hope to empower people to protect themselves online.”

The campaign used engaging graphics and byte-sized information to explain complex cyber threats such as ransomware, identity theft and financial fraud. The goal, Shah adds, was “not just to inform, but to shift mindsets and build a culture of digital responsibility.”

Focusing on community health, the club organised a health check-up camp at Avval Foundation’s old age home, offering medical consultations and physiotherapy support to senior residents.

“Many of the elders here don’t have regular access to doctors,” explains Shah. “We wanted to ensure that their basic health needs like blood pressure, sugar levels and BMI were checked, and that they received the necessary medication.”

By sharing simple tips on how to spot phishing scams, create strong passwords, and use two-factor authentication, we hope to empower people to protect themselves online.

Alongside check-up, the club introduced daily mobility exercises with the help of a physiotherapy expert. Following the success of the camp, the club now plans to make it a monthly event. “A one-time camp is helpful, but consistent care is what truly makes a difference,” says Shah.

Marking the festival of Makar Sankranti, the club, along with the Rotaract Clubs of Ahmedabad Asmita and Ahmedabad Majesty Stars, organised the Sprinkles of Joy, an initiative to celebrate the city’s unsung sanitation heroes. Over 150 civic conservancy staff were honoured with festive kits of chikki and murmura laddus.

“These workers start their day before sunrise, ensuring our city stays clean no matter the weather or occasion,” says Supan Shah, the project chair. “This was our way of saying ‘thank you’ for their silent yet essential service.”

Donations from Rotaractors and their families “made the distribution possible, transforming a modest effort into a touching tribute. It was humbling to see their smiles. It reminded us how a small gesture can make someone’s day.”