Project Udaan lifts 100 kids in Delhi

Over the last two years, Project Udaan (flight) of RAC SGGSCC, RID 3011, has reached out to around 100 slum ­children at ­Pitampura, a neighbourhood in northwest Delhi, providing them with working skills in basic math, ­English and Hindi. “Every Thursday, we engage around 25–30 children at the District Park, Pitampura, where 10–12 Rotaractors teach them literacy skills. Besides, fun sports, singing and dancing are also held to keep them in good ­spirits. Sports like kho-kho and kabaddi are played to create bonding among them,” says Jasnoor Kaur, club president.

All the 28 ­Rotaractors at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh ­College of ­Commerce take turns to teach ­children at the ­Pitampura park. “We teach moral values and the importance of ethics in life through storytelling which is the most awaited session among the children,” she says. Recently, a cancer screening camp was held at Mahipalpur, a slum colony near the Indira Gandhi Airport, in which five doctors from the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute examined 100 women for cervical, oral and breast cancer. “Consultations and prescriptions, wherever necessary, were given to all the patients.” The camp was held jointly with the ­Samarpan Foundation, a local NGO.

In April, a dental check-up camp was conducted with the help of Clove Dental, a local clinic, at the Lal Bagh Park in which ­“people of all age groups were examined for oral deformities. They were advised on the need to maintain oral hygiene with preventive care.”

In a show of ­solidarity with ­college authorities, “we ­distributed sweets and new clothes worth ₹4,000 to 10 ­non-teaching staff and campus workers before Diwali.” The Diwali gesture was much appreciated by the college staff, says Jasnoor. More than 150 people were screened at the eye check-up camp at ­Mahipalpur in a joint event with two local NGOs, Serve Samman and Little India ­Foundation. Around 40 spectacles were distributed to patients.

The club has plans to hold a marathon to create awareness on the rights and social inclusion of LGBTQIA community in June. “We are expecting a huge turnout of people, as it is open to the public. Our district Rotaractors and college students will throng the venue,” she says. But adds, the project is still under drafting stage.

Good mentorship

At the weekly club meetings, “all our members come out with their project ideas at the brainstorming session. We discuss and build a consensus on taking up projects in the near future,” smiles Jasnoor. The parent Rotary, RC New Delhi, extends guidance and monetary support to Rotaractors, if needed, in project ­implementation. Rotary club president C P Sharma has helped ­Rotaractors quite often with funds and guidance, and “we are very thankful to him for this kind gesture.”

Another father-like person is Rtn Vimal Gupta, “who is a great mentor who offers valuable advice and suggestions on Rotaract projects,” says Jasnoor. An annual fee of ₹600 per head is charged, of which ₹500 goes to RI dues, and ₹100 for the district fund. Doing her second year, Bachelor of Management Studies, she says, “it has been a beautiful two-year journey as Rotaractor during which I learnt many life lessons. One of the most important traits I learnt is how to deal or handle different people in your daily life.” She was also an Interactor at the school.

Jasnoor is looking forward to join her parent Rotary club by the middle of 2026, “as by that time I would be in good position in life,” she smiles.