Rotaract Clubs now firing on all cylinders
Rushabh Tijoriwala assumed charge as President of the Rotaract Club of Bombay at a function held at H.R. College on June 13. Outgoing President Jharna Shahani handed over the reins to him before a gathering of 126, including guests of honour Hiren Kara, Rotaract Chairman Satyan Israni and District Rotaract Representative Vaibhav Shinde. On June 26, the Club organised Drugs the Destroyer, a project to create awareness about the harmful effects of drug use and abuse through stories of how they had destroyed the lives of many, including some famous celebrities.
A platform was offered to enable the general public to interact with members of the Club and express their views. The Club co-hosted the project Drop of Hope, the blood donation drive conducted at Churchgate station on July 1. Through “Beach Games” on July 5, the Club sought to generate team spirit and bonding with sports like kabaddi, football, tug-of-war and dodgeball. This was a joint venture with the Rotaract Club of K.J. Somaiya College and attracted a very good turnout. Another initiative of the Club called 1+1+1 = 3+Communty started on July 26. The idea behind this project was to complete three community events in one day and make a small difference to society.
The Rotaractors collected old newspapers from friends and relatives (about 120 kg.); to the money generated they added a few donations and then offered food to children outside Bombay Central Station. The Rotaractors also procured and gave raincoats, umbrellas, windcheaters and flex banners to underprivileged people in Cuffe Parade. The Rotaract Club of HR. College conducted a professional development project called Ten Star (GB Mania Project) on July 22, wherein a hypothetical situation was created in which teams had to build a hotel in 30 days where every day was equivalent to three minutes.
Teams of six to eight were given a list of items for building their hotels which would generate different amounts of revenue and they had to strategise what they wanted to build. To gain capital, teams had to perform a small task which was based on the game “Diner Dash” in which every satisfied customer got them Rs. 1,000 and for every unsatisfied customer they lost Rs. 200. There were many other “complications” woven into the game and in the end the team with the most money won. As part of Catch me if you can on July 24, the Club conducted a race at the BPT Gardens to “catch” a thief.
This was a race with a professional twist; the members got a taste of different professions like medicine, aviation, banking, the culinary arts and the police while collecting clues to solve the case. On July 27 the Rotaract Club of H.R. College organised a project called Superheroes to bring out the superhero within each person, to challenge strengths and test weaknesses. They learnt about different superheroes and tackled tricky situations. It was an adventurous and funfilled project. Turning to senior citizens, an often neglected section of society, the Club organised Sparkles on July 29. This was an attempt to bring a smile on the faces of the elders cooped up in the King George Memorial (a home for the aged).
The Rotaractors spent a few hours with them, playing games and hearing their stories as they recalled their good old days. The Rotaract Club of Hinduja College has been revived thanks to the efforts of IPP Nirav Shah, Ravi Fotedar and Gaurav Nevatia. We thank Principal Dr. Minu Madlani for her help and support in this initiative. The Club began by cohosting the Drop of Hope on July 1 with the Rotaract Club of Bombay. It also organised a retreat for members at Matheran on August 1 to generate bonding and increase familiarity between the new members. They participated in various games and activities, including trekking, hiking and other team-building sports and games. There was participation by 71 Rotaractors.