Project Period Power creates impact in Solapur

Two-year-old RAC Sangameshwar College in Solapur, RID 3132, is busy raising funds from the public and Rotarians to execute a slew of high-visibility projects in and around the city. “We have 40 Rotaractors and all of them participate in our monthly activities with enthusiasm. Our teams had conducted three MHM workshops in colleges that saw participation of at least 45–50 girls in each menstrual hygiene camp under Project Period Power. At the three virtual sessions for the same project, we had altogether 100 online visitors,” says Shreya Mashal, club president.

With the aim to create awareness about Rotaract and its global activities, the club has shot a five-minute documentary film with zero cost.

Expressing gratitude to her parent RC Solapur North which sponsored the Rotaract club, she says Rtn Poonam Deodas, the IPP, guides them “at every step. She helps the Rotaractors in both planning and executing the service projects. She has been a great mentor to us.” The club has contributed ₹1.5 lakh out of ₹30–35 lakh for the renovation of the Prathana Old Age Home which was a joint initiative of local NGOs. “We collected money from the public and large-hearted donors, also some Rotarians helped us, and we were happy that we had played a role in making the life of elderly and destitute a little more comfortable at this old age home,” she says.

For the 15 children at the Prathana Balagram, Rotaractors shower them with goodies including new clothes, toys, study material and other essentials during festivals and special occasions like Diwali, Holi, Independence and Republic Days. “Our visit to the children’s home is a regular feature as we are happy to see the smile on the little ones’ faces during our lively interactions there.”

Hybrid projects

During the Covid lockdown, the club hosted 2–3 webinars for the college students and Rotaractors. “We had a motivational lecture on how to be inspired to do social work; followed by a career guidance for those preparing for competitive exams; and of course, we had multiple virtual sessions on MHM for college girls,” explains president-elect Sanjana Nagtilak. They collected 35 bottles of blood at the Mahadan camp to mark World Rotaract Week in the first week of March.

At one of the physical MHM sessions at the Sonamata High School in the city, “a team of Rotaractors visited Classes 7–8 and addressed 35–40 girls in the age group of 12-14 during their class hours. Later on, Rtn Poonam gave a lecture-demo on hygienic use of sanitary pads and their safe disposal for the target girls group,” she says.

With the aim to create awareness about Rotaract and its global activities, the club has shot a five-minute documentary film with zero cost as “it was shot in our smartphones and Rotaractors acted in it. But we need support from our Rotary club to release the short film for the wider audience for good impact,” says Shreya.

In the near future, there is a plan to hold study and art lectures for children in slum colonies in and around Solapur. “We want to give shape to their ­imaginations through creative pursuits. The project is still in the drawing board, but once finalised it will help the underprivileged students to sharpen and display their creative talent for the ­public,” she says. Another outreach programme they are planning to do is motivational workshops for transgenders “as part of our ongoing monthly events to motivate them to succeed in life.”

Rotarians from their parent Rotary have been generous in their donations “which is one of the factors for the success of our community outreach so far,” chorus Shreya and Sanjana. There are three Rotaract clubs in Solapur having around 120 Rotaractors. “But as one of the two institution-based clubs, we want to be different in our approach to social work and very soon we will reach out to various sections of people through impactful and motivational projects,” adds Shreya, doing MA (English) at the Sangameshwar College. n