First Rotary meeting for 2007-08

The first meeting was held at Hotel Connemara and Varadarajan conducted the Club Assembly in style. All Directors made their presentations and we have now a close to 7 million Rupees worth of projects that are to be taken on. A prospective member was introduced to the Club by Secretary Rahul and Karthik introduced Muthukumar as a propsective member. As we keep moving I feel that we will be able to reach our target of 40 members this year, initiative taken by Karthik in moving our club meeting place to Connemara will pay dividends and so also the efforts being put in by all members towards bettering every sphere of activity. Resources are important and we are lucky in this.

Start of a New Rotary Year

We have started another New Rotary year, Rtn Varadarajan was installed as President of the club with a powerful team of office bearers. Plans have been made for the year and they include, water treatment plant for Kovalam village, support to Chip Ross Centre for Learning, Helping Hands continues with more support from Strathcona Sunrise, provision of sleeping koits to conservancy workers and more. Many members of the Lodge went to Pondicherry for a weekend of brain storming soon ater installtion and have returned with renewed commitment, energy and enthusiasm. This being the 10th year for RCCK will be an important milestone in which the Club hopes to build steps leading to the top. Thanks to all who have been helpful and interested in us.

Chip Ross Learning Centre

Rtn. Mohan Roy on hearing the story of Sarada immediately wrote out a cheque towards te centre and we all thank him for his generosity. Mohan did not think before he sent out a mail stating that he would be glad to support such a great cause. It is a privilege to have a member like Mohan in RCCK.

Water treatment project

A few clubs form California and RCCK are joining hands to provide safe drinking water to people in Tsunami hit areas and the project is shaping up nicely. Things are hotting up and there will be more news on this front soon.

Sarada helped

Sarada comes from a village located South of Chennai in the interiors of the State of Tamilnadu. She is disabled and finds it difficult to move around her house. With great difficulty her parents have pooled in much of their resources and have sent her to school and she managed to come up to the 10^th when they gave up due to lack of funds.

Confined to her house, in a village with a population of about 1500, she is unable to stand the loneliness and the prospect of a bleak future. Unable to study in a school nor able to take on any work due to lack of skills and opportunities Sarada slipped into depression. Her parents try to talk to her but this is of no help and the condition worsens. Life becomes unbearable.

In a couple of months Sarada who is unable to study, go out to play or get herself a job hears of a computer centre in the city of Chennai which provides free training for disabled girls and to make it even better she would get a place to stay and food for the six months she has to stay in Chennai for the training. She talks to her parents and enrolls.

In the next batch at the centre Sarada registers and her training on computers commences. To Sarada everything is a new experience, Chennai a metropolis with a population of over 8 million, the vehicles, the traffic, the lights so different from a sleepy village which has 2 streets and no street lights, no cinema halls and only one resident has a car. It takes her 2 weeks to come to terms with her new surroundings.

The next six months at the centre is heaven for her, she has made friends with the other girls, she is now able to talk as an equal with other people and participates in discussions. Her time at the computer centre not only teaches her new skills but also develops her personality and opens hitherto unknown opportunities for her.

Then comes the sad day, the day when the training is over and Sarada finds that she does not want to go back home. She does not want to go back to a home where there no people who will treat her as an equal, a home where even a smile is difficult, happiness is difficult, though her parents her not to blame they will never be able to duplicate the experience she had at the centre.

Luckily at the graduation ceremony her prayers are answered, a business person interviews a few of the girls and then shows her willingness to offer three of them jobs in her factory. Sarada’s life has changed and today she is a dedicated worker and is now confident of her future.

What made this possible was the Chip Ross computer Centre at Andhra Mahila Sabha sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk.

Make a difference to a disabled girl’s life for as little as USD 200 per year.

Contributions in USD :

Pay:American Express,Bank New York;Swift code :aeibus33

Contributions in UK Pounds:

Pay National Westminister Bank;Swift code: nwbkgb2l

For the credit of Indian Bank, Overseas Branch, Chennai ;Swift code :idibinbbmas

For further credit to :S.B. Account No. 27162
Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk Charitable Trust - Foreign Contribution Account.
Indian Bank,
Kilpauk Branch,
New Avadi Road,
Chennai 600010,
India