Delhi Rotaractors do winter-related projects

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.

After getting chartered on July 23, 2023 as an independent Rotaract club (without sponsorship from a parent Rotary club), “we have done 15 service projects reaching out to communities in the national capital region (NCR). Our membership of 20 Rotaractors is made up of a good mix of youngsters, mostly final year college students, and working professionals. Thanks to their efforts, our project funding is done through member donations and their family support,” he explains.

During Christmas, they engaged around 130 children at the Ratan Wala Park, Model Town, in various fun activities. “We named our event Project Christmastide as we formed groups to explain the historical facts behind Christmas to children, distributed Santa Claus caps to all, and provided delicious food including sandwich, juice, biscuits and chips,” he says. In turn, Rotaractors were entertained with songs and dance performance by the young ones with ZRR Ritik Aggarwal presiding over it as the chief guest. Gift bags were given to all children.

After getting chartered on July 23, 2023 as an independent Rotaract club (without sponsorship from a parent Rotary club), we have done 15 service projects reaching out to communities.
— Rajat Kapoor, president, RAC Delhi Dynamic Leaders

Around 200 woollen blankets were distributed to homeless families and destitute across the NCR in a two-day drive. “We collected ₹16,000 from our members, friends and well-wishers to purchase blankets for the less privileged families exposed to wintery nights,” he says. On Republic Day, they spent time with 110 orphaned inmates at the DMRC Children’s Home at Tis Hazari near the Kashmiri Gate. DRR Kriti Malhotra hoisted the national flag, after which stationery kits were distributed to children. Snacks including muffins, sandwich and juice were given to them.

Makar Sankranti and Lohri were celebrated at the Apna Ghar Ashram, Budhpur, an old age home with 450 elderly inmates. “We served dinner to senior citizens and ration items worth ₹10,000 were donated to the special home.” In April, a mega bandara (food distribution) reached out to 1,500 beneficiaries at ­Janakpuri, ­followed by Project Chabeel (a mix of water, Rooh Afza and milk) in May in which chilled rose milk will be served to over 2,000 pedestrians and commuters “as refreshment during summer.”

New Rotary club

Kapoor is in discussion with around 7–8 members who as past presidents of Rotaract clubs have good experience in service projects. “We have members from RID 3011, 3012 and 3070, and some of them have more than 10 years of Rotaract experience. I am also in contact with DRR Kriti and DG ­Jeetender Gupta for chartering a new Rotary club with members from our Rotaract club,” he explains.

Having been in Rotaract for four years, he runs a marketing agency in the food and beverage sector that caters to restaurants and cafes. “We use social media handles and digital marketing in a big way, which are also leveraged to promote our Rotaract activity,” he smiles. Over the last 10 months since they came into being, “we had exchanged over 100 letterheads with Rotaract clubs across 30-plus districts in India,” Kapoor signs off with pride.