Service in scrubs
The Rotaract Club of Medicrew was chartered in 2020 by the Rotary Club of Bombay Pier, RID 3141. The club has 6,102 medical student Rotaractors from 10 countries, including India, USA, England, Switzerland, Australia, Nepal, Pakistan, Belgium, UAE and Canada. “Since the club was launched in Mumbai, we are part of RID 3141,” says Saloni Shah, the club’s past president and a final-year MBBS student at K J Somaiya Medical College, Mumbai. She joined the club in her first year and remains committed to its mission.
With members in 37 Indian cities and 50 cities globally, the club has seen rapid growth — doubling its strength from 3,000 members just a few years ago. “While we’ve always had a strong base in Maharashtra, Gujarat and South India, this year we’re seeing increased membership from Gurgaon, Delhi, Faridabad and eastern India as well,” she says.
Over the past five years, Medicrew Rotaractors have led a wide range of impactful service initiatives. In 2024–25 alone, they organised 479 events across India: “a milestone achievement,” smiles Saloni.
One of their flagship programmes is an annual webinar that offers guidance to over 1,000 high school students aspiring for careers in medicine. “Many of them dream of becoming doctors but are unsure of the options and the path to take,” she explains. The sessions provide clarity on different medical courses, institutions, and what to expect from each of them.
Each Rotaractor contributes to service projects based on the needs of their local community and geotagged photos of service projects executed worldwide are uploaded on the club’s website. Project planning and approval rest with the club’s core committee and elected Board of Directors. A dedicated HRD Subcommittee, consisting of 1–2 state directors per country and regional international ambassadors, coordinates activities and inductions. “We recruit ambassadors through personal networks and Instagram. Once selected, they handle inductions — either offline or online,” she says. Orientation programmes introduce new members to the club’s past initiatives, networking opportunities and upcoming plans that focus on both community service and personal development.
As a club of medical students, health-related projects form a core part of their service. One such initiative, Diabeaware, held nationwide diabetes and blood pressure screening camps in collaboration with local partners. Participants reviewed the readings, and gave personalised health advice and follow-up referrals. “More than just diagnosis, our goal was to spread health literacy and help prevent complications,” says club president Jessica Gupte from Pune. In Mumbai, the Rotary Clubs of Bombay Pier, Mumbai and Mumbai Down Town Sea Land partnered in the initiative. Another vital project, Rakt ki Shakti (Power of Blood), addressed iron deficiency (anaemia) through awareness and screening camps in schools and underserved communities across Mumbai. In partnership with NGOs Bhumi and YuWaah, the camps educated participants on symptoms, iron-rich diets, and causes such as worm infestations. Iron supplements were distributed, especially to adolescent girls and women at risk.
Lift the Lip, a pan-India dental screening initiative in partnership with Smile Train India, focused on addressing dental issues and early detection of cleft conditions in children. Held across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, the week-long drive involved dental and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists and 50 volunteers. Over 200 children were screened, with many referred for free cleft surgeries and follow-up care. Families were also counselled on post-surgical support, reinforcing that the cleft lip is a treatable condition with proper intervention.
Tackling the sensitive issue of child sexual abuse, the club launched Shielding Innocence, a project aimed at protecting vulnerable children. Volunteers underwent training in child psychology and legal protocols, learning to use gentle, open-ended questioning and understanding reporting procedures. They conducted sessions on safe and unsafe touch and educated older children about their legal rights and available support mechanisms.
Through Project Shiksha, the club supported the education of orphaned children by donating school supplies and conducting career counselling sessions. Donation boxes placed in college canteens encouraged contributions in cash or kind. This year alone, 1,600 children from 35 orphanages across the country benefitted from the programme.
Another academic initiative, Foundations for Future, focuses on foundational education in math, science and language for underprivileged children aged 6–14. Conducted in partnership with Child Rights and You, and Robinhood Army, weekend classes blended academic concepts with playful learning. “Rather than traditional lectures, we focused on joyful engagement,” says Jessica.
Whether it was a math relay to teach basic arithmetic operations, ‘Hangman’ game for vocabulary, poetry recitation to improve Hindi, or a simple nature walk to observe the surroundings, innovative ways were adopted to make learning more interesting. “Science and English quizzes kept teams on their toes, while Cadbury chocolates came handy in teaching fractions and decimals. Reading fluency was assessed through role-plays using Ladybird storybooks, and storytelling circles invited participants to retell Panchatantra tales in their own words.” The sessions also emphasised cultural learning, with festival-based activities and competitions fostering a sense of belonging and mental well-being.
Incoming president Radharani, who is also from Mumbai, is all set to carry the initiative through in the coming year, while adding some more meaningful service projects, adds Saloni.
