Of, by and for the community

Updated on: Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The 22-year-old Rotaract Club of Saibaba Colony from Coimbatore has taken the concept of student entrepreneurship to new heights. Having inspired endless youngsters over the last two decades to develop their social, humanitarian and soft skills over the years, the initiative has now blossomed into one of the finest and praise-worthy societies for college-goers.

Being a sister club, or wing, of the Cbe West Rotary Club, the students have gotten a wide range of ideas and contacts that have aided them in running the club. “We’re a community-based advent that hope to develop it by serving others.

Our sessions are all coordinated to build ourselves professionally on an all-round level; be it team-building, marketing, public speaking or organizing skills. Many of our ex-members have grown into successful businesspeople giving credit to our club’s exercises on enhancing their resume.

Personally, its been an excellent platform for me as I’ve built a portfolio, garnered experience via a part-time advertisement job and improved as an individual,” says current President, Alagendran Subramaniam, a 2nd year VisCom student.

The club’s successful ventures are diverse: ‘Sahayam,’ a fest arranged for special children to partake in and win prizes; donation of 1000 first-aid boxes to autos and police vans; an inter-school cultural event ‘Illusions’ involving 1300 schools in and around the city and a range of welfare projects like blood donation, salt dumping, road safety awareness, food distribution on ‘World Health Day’ at homes, donation of old clothes, etc.

“We’ve adopted the CSI Primary School at Nanjundapuram, where we teach kids basic hygiene and etiquette, volunteer to raise funds, which is a great feeling! I was also part of a dental camp arranged at ‘Family for Children.

’ We treated several mentally-challenged kids and I saw the world in a new light. Besides, being an international set-up, I’ve learnt so much about global standards of welfare,” comments Deepika Ratna, a third year BDS student. So, how has the club opened the youngster’s eyes to reality? Bharath Bhaskar, a 1st year B.Com student remarks, “It really has been a thought-provoking journey- I learnt about the non-beneficial way people help others; the lifestyle in orphanages and slums.

During an event, I made to help a blind person upto the stage, but he pushed me away saying he could do it himself. Such incidents made me understand the tenacity and confidence even under-privileged humans possess. Surely, we students have to make the most of our blessed lives as well.”

Of, by and for the community

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