Joy of Sound

Global Grant Project 

On, 11th June, we rolled out our very ambitious, $66000, Global Grant Project called the Joy of Sound. This project, in association with theRotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise-Courteney, will work towards changing the way the hearing impaired child is educated through the use of smart classrooms. Under the project, we will be supporting 2 schools for the hearing impaired, the MGR School for the Deaf and The MJC-Guild of Service School for the Deaf.

The club will work with the schools to:
1. Develop smart classroom content for classes 5,6,7,8,9, and 11. This is being achieved by training and enabling the special skill teachers to transform physical content into electronic medium.
2. Provide smart classroom infrastructure for 3 classes each at both the schools
3. Provide hearing aids to the children in the school.
4. With the support of Clearwater Technologies, provide Shoebox Audiometry testing application, that any teacher can use to carryout screening of the children and track their hearing progress.
3. Screen and identify children with hearing disability by holding screening camps in the schools.
4. Admitting children from the identified set and educating them in these schools.

20 teachers underwent training on computer and Powerpoint skills at the MGR Janaki Arts and Science College. This army of teachers, lead by the very committed and able, Mrs. Sarawathi will drive us to our goal. Many thanks to all for volunteering to take up this cause. It is a challenge and will require each of these teachers to put in many many hours of extra work to make this project a success. But I believe that each one who takes up the cause of teaching a special child, has already made that commitment and is driven to make a difference to the lives of these children they teach. While each teacher is a blessed and honoured being, the ones who teach children with disabilities, are on the top.

Special thanks to the selfless dedication of Mrs. Saraswati, our Lead Coach and Trainer (she has given her life for teaching the hearing impaired), Rtn. Mrs. Latha Rajendran of the MGR School and Mrs. Rani Gulrajani of the GOS School, for partnering with RCCK.

Many thanks to Rtn. Chip Ross and Rtn. Mike Pontus from our partner club, RC Strathcona Sunrise for helping make this project a reality. Thanks also to 3230 DG, Raju, 3230 Rotary Foundation Chair, Muthupalaniappan Shanmugama and Rtn. Jennifer Berg of the RI Global Grants team, for helping with the grant approval.

Most of all, thanks to all members of RCCK, especially Hari Ratan for his guidance, Ravi Krishnan for helping and doing all the work on the application, Mita Gorsia Venkatraman, Ravindran, Sanjay Agarwal, Ravikant Choudhry and Kalpana for being there at the inauguration of the event, and everyone else for always being there.

Small beginning and many miles to go. Happy that the trip has started.

Pres. Sanjay Agarwal on the right.

Helping Hands - Distribution of Mobility Aids. 8th May 2014

Thanks to a Matching Grant with the RC of Edmonton Mayfield we were able to distribute 11 tricycles and wheelchairs and a number of crutches and specialised prosthetics to 34 poor and disabled at the premises of the Red Cross Society, Chennai Chapter.

The distribution took place at the Red Cross premises in Egmore, the Chief Guest was Mr. S.F.Akbar, State Information Commissioner, Tamil Nadu. The Guest of Honour was Rtn. Sudhir Thakker, President of RCCK

Hearing Aids - ROTI project with RC of Galesburg, Illinois supported by TRF.

This project which is supported by ROTI and is a MG with RC of Galesburg, Illinois has seen many people hearing for the first time. Giving great relief to elders and parents and children.

A camp was conducted in a village close to Chennai to identify those with hearing impairment, hearing aids were distributed by DG AP Kanna on March 7th.

It was heartening to note that this project has been instrumental in changing the lives of so many and in so many different ways. One would think how an hearing aid would benefit the elderly BUT it does. An elderly lady said that she would now be able to walk on the roads peacefully as she could hear the traffic and more over she would be able to enter into conversations with her friends as she could hear and then respond. She would no more be set apart because of hearing difficulties.

Should the hearing aids go to those who are young? to those who will benefit the most? Should we disregard the elderly who are nearing their end? or those who are too ill to move around? At this distribution function an elderly man was given a hearing aid and he later told me that he would no longer have to avoid his friends, neighbours and nor would they avoid him and he would now be able to converse with them. I doubt if we will ever realise the pain of the hearing impaired at whatever age.

So much more needs to be done...

Hearing Impaired Screening Camp - MG with RC of Galesburg - ROTI Project

This matching grant project which is partnered with Rotary Club of Galesburg, Illinois, started yesterday with the first screening camp and had a wonderful response.

Many residents of close to 19 villages  surrounding the camp had come and some of them staying as far as 35 kilometers away on the outskirts of North Chennai.  The campaign for calling people to get checked was extremely effective and from these villages whose population is close to about 4000 numbers, we were able to call about 200 of them to visit in a single day.  The effectiveness of the campaigning done by Dr Sandhya Ruban (of Eternity Foundation)  and her team of volunteers was fantastic, enabling it specifically call for patients with hearing abnormalities.

We had team of the following specialists :

DR KAMATCHIPANDIAN – DOCTOR ATTACCHED TO E N T DEPARTMENT K M C

MR PRAVESH – AUDIOLOGIST

MR SANDEEP – AUDIOLOGIST

We were also honoured to have the presence of Mrs Neela Govindaraj ( Speech Therapist and Language Assessor of specially challenged) who had accompanied with Ms Uma (a social service initiator who also works with IBM).  Both Mrs Neela and Ms Uma sat for a long time and helped in coordinating and handling the visiting patients. They interacted and counseled the visitors on a one to one basis, which was really interesting to see them doing their roles in gathering more insights to the various challenges faced by the villagers.

We also witnessed misery at its lowest point  in the case of certain individuals who felt extremely helpless with their lives.  Hence we could sense there was lots to be done in terms of community service to these villages, and there was potential for plenty of them who needed to be living in standard basic amenities.

Finally coming back to hearing impairment and hearing aid cases, we have crossed 100 deserving beneficiaries and individuals cases are being discussed in a couple of days with the Doctors, to analyse and shortlist hearing aids beneficiaries.

Camp to identify Hearing Impaired - 27th Oct 2013

While the RC Chennai Kilpauk has been providing hearing aids to those with hearing impairment the last few years we made a decision to depart from the usual practice of providing hearing aids to those who were identified and needing hearing aids.

This time our Project Chairman - Rtn Divyesh Palicha decided to hold a large one day camp to identify beneficiaries on the following
1. Many, do not accept that they have a hearing problem and continue to live as they do without seeking help, the elderly believe that it is because of age and the youngsters are shy and do not come forward.
2. If we do not conduct a camp to identify such people they may never seek help and will continue to live in such conditions for a longer time.

Divyesh was informed that if he conducts a camp only for the hearing impaired the response would be poor as people would come and spread the word that the camp was only for the hearing impaired and many would stay away from the camp and not be screeened. Divyesh and his team have planned to also have a GP who will first screen the attendees provide them with medication if any for any ailment they may or believe that they have and then send them through for the audiometry tests.

More than 10 Rotarians and over 20 volunteers participated in this camp. Divyesh has been planning and preparing for this camp the last 3 weeks.

Helping Hands - Guild of Service

We distributed 10 Tricycles and 10 Wheelchairs this morning. This project was made possible through a Matching Grant with the Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield with the active support of Rtn. Chip Ross of RC Strathcona Sunrise.

It is hoped that we will work closely with the guild to help the disabled.

The Chief Guest was Dr Nischal Pandey from E Club in New Delhi. He is here in chennai to make a presentation at the club meeting this evening on the work his club is doing in Uttarakhand. 

 A True Moment of Freedom - Celebrating India's 66th Independence Day at Arambakkam Village - August 15th, 2012

President Rtn. Nirmal Nahar, Rtn Ravindran
and Rtn Vasanthi handing over the Mobility
Aids at Arambakkam village

All set for being mobile

Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk under its Helping Hands Project in association with Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise, Canada, distributed 20 Tricycles and 1 wheel chair, of a total value of Rs.1,05,000/- to the disabled people of the village of Arambakkam, Gummidipoondi Taluk, with the all round efforts of our Directors Community Services, Rtn Vasanthi ,  Rtn. Ravindran under the able guidance of President Rtn Nirmal Nahar. It was truly a celebration of Independence for the recipients on the occasion of the Independence Day of the nation as well. And through Rotary, we were able to bring a sense of freedom through the Mobility Aids to the disabled.

A Sense of Freedom - Driving
away their tricycles after RCCK handed them the
Mobility Aids at Arambakkam village

One of the Tricycles handed over
by RCCK at Arambakkam

21 Prosthetics to disabled - 28th Dec 2011

On the morning of 28th of Dec 2011 members of the Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk gathered at Mukti at Meenambakkam to hand over prosthetics to poor and needy disabled. For many of the beneficiaries this was the first time they were receiving prosthetics. The first timers needed to be trained in maintenance, usage and car.

At every camp that is held for prosthetics there are always stories which need to be told and this camp was not different. The suffering of a disabled person is much, while we provide them with mobility aids, these people still suffer, a prosthetic alone does not take them to a normal life and this may never be possible for many of them.

The need is so much that even after we take many steps forward the target has been pushed further away. There are still so many disabled in remote and far flung villages who live without hope and in misery. If Rotary cannot help them who will?

This Artificial Limb Camp was funded by a Matching Grant with RC of Strathcona Sunrise.

Technicians at Mukti giving finishing touches to artificial limbs to be handed over to beneficiaries.

A beneficiary trying out his new limb.

Some of the beneficiaries

Waiting for their limbs

An old limb of one of the beneficiaries, could not be repaired

An improvised limb of one of the beneficiaries, the limb was heavy and difficult to use as there was no flexibility. The owner of this limb was relieved to get a new limb that works well.

Rtn. Varadarajan's Speech

Tricycles Distributed at Uthukottai

We have over the last many years provided mobility aids to so many disabled people and every time we move to a new location to help the disabled it is always true that there are more disabled than we thought there would be. An Association for disabled people in Chithoor approached us for some help with the disabled and in the first stage we said that we would give away 30 tricycles out of a total of 67 that were requested.

The first batch of Tricycles were distributed on Sunday the 27th of November 2011. While members of the Club were not able to reach the location due to heavy rain and this coupled with road maintenance work being carried on.

The Chairman of the project Rtn Ravindran had just before the rains visited the venue and had inspected the tricycles while they were being assembled. He had a few weeks earlier met with all beneficiaries. As a process every beneficiary has to be  met and proper documentation collected, the documentation includes a disability certificate issued by the Govt, ration card copies were available, ID proof, photograph and details of disability.

Tricycles and Wheelchairs

The RC of Chennai Kilpauk has recently provided Mobility Aids to the following villages:

15 tricycles to Mepur village, this village is about 30 Kms from Chennai and is off the Chennai - Bangalore Highway

Arambakkam village which is 65 Kms from Chennai on the Nellore Highway
13 Tricycles
4 Wheelchairs

Snegithan- Association for the welfare of the physically handicapped
10 tricycles and 4 wheel chairs

The disabled who benefitted from this project were poorest of the poor and are cmopletely deserving of these aids.

These mobility aids would enhance their lives and empower them by making them mobile and independant as regards their movement. Also increasing their chances of obtaining gainful employment.

This project was made possible with a MG with the RC Strathcona Sunrise with special thanks to TRF and Rtn, Chip Ross who is the primary contact with the RC of Strathcona Sunrise.

Helping Hands - caliper Camp at Madurai

The Camp at Madurai was conducted between 21st and 28th of Feb 2010. We were able to distribute 110 calipers to polio affected, the calipers were made by Mukti at the camp site. This project was conducted with support from TRF through a MG with RC of London. Every camp that is conducted results in so many disabled getting a new lease of life which come with mobility and confidence. We hope we will be able to conduct more camps without any break.

Vocational Service project - TVK School

We have been working together with the Thiru Vi Ka School to provide vocational training to school drop outs, the courses offered are:

• welder
• turner
• electrician
• plumber and
• carpenter

The next batch will commence on 1st July 2010. Till date the RCCK has handed over more than completion certificates to over 300 dropouts and with a 100% success rate on employment. The certification programme is approved by the Ministry of labour and employment thereby assuring a bright future for those who take the exams. This project is aided by the TRF through a Matching Grant with RC of Medford Rogue, Oregon. Rtn Tim johnson played an active part in this project and it is hoped that we will get sufficient funding over the next few years to ensure the programme's continuity.

Our plans for reaching out to the disabled

Over the next few months there will be a number of camps by which we will distribute artificial limbs, calipers and mobility aids. Salem, Madurai, Orissa, UP are some of the regions where these camps will be held.

Having heard that Karnataka has a large number of disabled who need help, I made some inquiries which reveal that this was true. I have sought more information and help in organising camps in the State of Karnataka.

I would dare to think that there would be atleast one camp every month over the next few months. By these camps RCCK will distribute over 700 calipers / limbs over the next 6 months.

Personally I am toying with the idea of reaching out to the disabled by conducting mativational workshops. Would it work?

A few days ago I was driving down to Pondicherry and stopped by on the road and noticed a quadraplegic running a tea shop. He was not even able to count out the change for his customers and had to be helped.

I told him to go to a camp that we were conducting and gave him the address and location and instructions on how to reach the camp. Also wrote out a letter for him. He never came. Why? Was he not able to find someone who will mind his shop for the day that he would be away?

Life is difficult.

Artificial Limb Camp in December 2009

The camp was inaugurated on 22nd December at Mukti and closed on 30th december with members of RCCK and Mukti working all days including weekends and Christmas to make sure that the camp was successfull AND it was.

Raveendran - Director Community Services put together an impressive artificial limb camp at Mukti in Chennai in the last week of december 2009. The accent was on reaching out to the disabled and much work went into this camp. The many hours of planning and the efficient execution did show what can be done with dedication. Over 96 disabled benefited from this camp.

Thanks to all members of RCCK and Mukti team for their great team work in reaching out to so many disabled in an efficient manner.

Kovalam water treatment plant inaugurated

The water treatment plant at Kovalam was inaugurated by DG W. Anand on Friday the 4th as scheduled. The inauguration took place with the auspicious sounds from folk instruments played by a small group of musicians hired for this purpose.

Well attended by District officials and members of RCCK the event was a grand success.

This project will enable over 600 households to get their requirement of drinking water within the village itself. Each household spends over Rs 600 per month on their water requirements and this plant will help them save this money.

RCCK pledged to do more for the people of Kovalam and has already initated a lireacy project in the village.

Kovalam water treatment plant - Inauguration

The Kovalam plant will be inaugurated by the DG of 3230 on 4th September (Friday) at Kovalam at 5 PM. Work is going on at an hectic pace to ensure that all work is completed for the event.

Chennai Kilpauk is looking at a longterm association with the village through RCC, literacy and other projects which will change the lives of its residents.

This project a joint effort of the RC of Dublin and RC of Chennai Kilpauk with support from The Rotary Foundation will provide safe drinking water to the residents of the Kovalam village. Rtn. Arthur McCullough provides active assistance in this project.

Over a thousand people will immediately benefit by this project and will no more have to buy their water for drinking or cooking.

This is a good example of how Rotary is making this world a better place to live in.

Helping Hands Phase III - Update

No news from TRF as yet on release of funds for this Matching Grant which has been approved.

I do hope that the monies will be released shortly so work can start.

We hope to contact Rotary Clubs in Orissa and Bihar and in rural Tamilnadu and provide prosthetics to amputees loiving in these areas. These people have little access to aid and specially for prosthetics.

Kovalam - Update

The shed for housing the water treatment plant at Kovalam village is ready and jose informs us that the plant will be installed and commissioned within the next few days. we hope that we will be able to inaugurate the plant in the first week of May.

Obviously the villagers are thrilled with the prospect of good, safe driniing water available at hand.

Art and Ron have been kept updated on all progress at Kovalam.

Sad news - 2 MG applications denied

2 MG applications made by us have been denied by TRF. We now need to get these applications readied and resubmitted on 1st July 2009, whe the new Rotary year starts.

The Kollumedu school is suffering without basic amenities and sadly they will have to wait for some more time.

Water treatment plant set to arrive today

Today we expect the water treatment plant to arrive in Chennai. There is still a little bit of documentation work that has to happen and all efforts are being made to get everything done and clear the plant at the earliest.

The letter from Collector - Kancheepuram that will enable us to clear the plant without payment of duty is yet to be received.

There is a lot of excitment in the air and the prospect of getting this large project done so as to benefit many thousand families is motivating in itself.