Committee Reports: Bhavishya Yaan 2019-2020

BHAVISHYA YAAN

Director-in-charge: Rtn. Meera Alreja

Chairperson: Rtn. Jamshed Vakharia

Vice-Chairperson: Rtn. Madhusudan Daga

Committee members: PP Rtn. Arun Sanghi, PP Rtn. Ramesh Narayan, Rtn. Alok Sekhsaria, Rtn. Meera Alreja, Rtn. Jagdish Malkani, Rtn. Satyan Israni, Rtn. Anand Dalal, Rtn. Ashok Jatia, Rtn. Ptn. Avaan Vakharia, Rtn. Ptn. Beena Yargop, Rtn. Ptn. Ekta Shah, Rtn. Homi Katgara, Rtn. Ptn. Jaya Prasad, Rtn. Manish Reshamwala, Rtn. Manoj Patodia, Rtn. Mudit Jatia , Rtn. Priyanka Jatia, Rashmi Bapna, Rtn. Rajesh Shah, Rtn. Shivkumar Israni, Rtn. Sunita Mandelia, Rtn. Varsha Daiya

Number of beneficiaries: 1456 students

Budget: Rs. 1,33,48,800/-

Estimated amount spent till end April: Rs. 86,37,451/-

The Bhavishya Yaan programme (BY) of the Rotary Club of Bombay celebrated its annual day and 10th anniversary this year. BY was started in February 2009 at the Dr. Ambedkar School in Worli with just 40 students and is now in its 11th successful year improving the lives of 1500 students in six BMC schools! What a stupendous achievement! The academic year 2019-20 started on a good note with all permissions for the year having been obtained on time. Here are the activities at a glance:

• A career guidance camp for our alumni conducted together with International School of Management Excellence (ISME) Rotaractors. It was a grand success, attended by 217 students. Feedback from the students, Rotarians and guests was encouraging.
• Celebration of International Yoga Day in all our schools.
• Our annual day for all six schools combined with the 10th anniversary was celebrated with much pomp and fanfare at the ISME Campus in Lower Parel, Mumbai (thanks to our very own Rtn. Indu Shahani) and strung together by BY mentor Rtn. Ptn. Avaan Vakharia who expertly hosted the entire event. The occasion was graced by the renowned actor Tara Sutaria. BY students rounded off another meaningful year with excellent SSC results with a near 100% pass percentage, several high scorers and school toppers.
• Our spoken English and Computer classes have progressed well with monthly oral and written tests conducted according to plan.
• Our partner Vidya arranged for Saturday activities in all schools on a regular basis.
• Tata Pro Engage volunteers spoke at five centres on Saturdays on topical issues like the Kashmir issue, Article 375 and its connotations Chandrayaan 2, inspiring personalities and the Solar System.
• Banking and financial literacy were dealt with by ITM volunteers who volunteered at the centres for 10 days.
• Volunteers from Vidya, Powai, visited schools engaging the children in interesting projects like scribble bots, wind cars and wind turbines, giving them hands-on experience in electronics. The sessions concluded with a STEM competition.
• The ISME Rotaractors conducted a STEAM project over 10 sessions. This was conducted on Saturdays for children of standards 5 to 8.
• In addition, the schools have had volunteers for chess and other activities during the year.
• A few talks by professionals were also held in some schools.
• The HR Rotaractors conducted “Quicksilver”, a programme with a grand finale at the KC Auditorium.
• Our alumni girls attended a seminar conducted by Population First & SBI to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child. The girls took part in a panel discussion on health and empowerment issues.
• Select children were taken to IIT Powai for a workshop on solar power and solar lights.
• Our District 3141 conducted a radio awareness programme on juvenile diabetes. Our young BY students lent their voice for this awareness programme. They were taken to 24Fret, a recording studio, to be a part of our District 3141 awareness programme.
• Educational camps and a lit fest on RK Narayan were held during the year.
• An art competition on “Your Dream City – Mumbai”, an initiative of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Mahindra & Mahindra, took place mid-November. Mr. Srirangan of the Bombay Chamber spoke to the children on technology changes the world over and gave away the prizes.
• Children’s Day was celebrated at all schools and children of both primary and secondary were given a good time!
• Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations took place at all schools and our children were applauded by the school principals.
• Children of Worli and Ambedkar visited the Bhau Daji Lad museum for excellent science sessions conducted by the museum team.
• Children’s outings included visits to the CCI Christmas Party, Cathedral School Fun Fair, Zoo and CSMVS Museum.
• Schools conducted much needed eye camps and dentistry camps for the children.
• Distribution of sanitary napkins took place at all schools. A year’s supply, bought at a highly discounted rate from Johnson & Johnson as part of our District project, was given to each girl.
• Our BY vs Rotary cricket match that was planned by our Sports Committee took place in early February at the Hindu Gymkhana and was a grand success.
• Distribution of ration to a few needy BY children took place during the lock-down.
• A wonderful awareness film made by our alumni on lock-down procedures was widely circulated on social media.
  The year ended abruptly but not before we could complete several activities as planned. It was an extremely satisfying and action packed year despite all the challenges!

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GENDER EQUALITY

Director-in-charge: Rtn. Vineet Bhatnagar

Chairperson: Rtn. Arin Master

Vice-Chairperson: Rtn. Anar Shah

Committee members: Rtn. Ravi Fotedar, Rtn. Dr. Aashish Contractor, Rtn. Natasha Treasurywala, Rtn. Tanya Sood, Rtn. Ptn. Bijal Kara, Rtn. Ptn. Dhvanika Thakkar, Rtn. Ptn. Pervin Jehangir

Rotary has supported IWA Clinic ever since Rtn. Sonya Mehta started this project in her year as President in 2015/16. IWA has been treating the underprivileged patients since 1962, but was on the brink of extinction till Sonya took interest and renovated the whole clinic. We added many more services to the ones offered earlier. We now have a full fledged Dental Clinic, Pediatrics, Gynaecology, General Physician, Dermatology, Homeopathy and Xray. All this has been possible with Rotary’s support. This year, from April 2019 to March 2020, we have seen 4791 patients and dispensed with meds worth almost Rs six lakh! IWA also conducts medical camps for some NGOs and we monitor the monthly progress of the children of Garden school, where we support them with additional nutrition.

Another ongoing project is Salaam Bombay, wherein we train 150 girl students across schools in different trades during the academic year 2019-20. A total of 155 students have been enrolled into the programme across eight schools in trades like Beauty & Wellness, Computer Hardware, Home Appliance Repair, Mobile Repair and Robotics. Students who pass the exam at the end of programme receive a government-recognised certificate. Students are also trained in Financial Literacy, visit reputed Government ITIs, skill training centres and academies. In addition, students are also provided a nutritional component. Finally, as part of Rotary Club of Bombay’s gender equality initiative, students are provided Self-Defence sessions.

On February 27, we had Project Red, an awareness programme on menstruation, hygiene and distribution of a year’s supply of free sanitary napkins to 210 girl students of M.S.P.T. High School at Nana Chowk, Grant Road. It was very well received and appreciated.

Another project called Miracle Feet, which deals with children born with Clubfoot, had to be shelved before it even took off because of the present circumstances.