On the ocassion of International Women's Day, our Club sponsored 10 pushcarts that help street vendors better livelihoold. This was done as part of the project organised by Rotary District 3232. Here is a picture of a vendor, before and after the project. Truly a project empowering women. Our Presidnet Bina Boaz participated in the event to handover the carts to the beneficiaries.

Our Club's Community Learning Centre in Kattur off OMR, Chennai got a shot in the arm as the training programme for women on tailoring and sewing was completed in March. It also marked a milestone commemorating International Women's Day and the women proved their prowess by displaying the dresses stitched by them. They also learned making shopping bags. It's the 12th year since the Centre was started during the Presidentship of Rtn. Seshadri under 'Happy Village' project. 

Our Club took part in the health Camp organised by our Rotary District on 30 December 2023, and managed the camp at LIG Flats Ashok Nagar 7th Avenue. Our member Jenson Peters spearheaded the arrangements on behalf of our Club. A fitting farewell to 2023, and our small contribution towards a healthy Chennai city.

Computers (pre-owned) under RCMS - Ford Digital Literacy Project was provided to two schools, Bees's school, Thiruvallur and Arignar Anna Middle school. These schools didn't have a single computer, and this project opens up the computer dreams of the students of these schools. The project was done in coordination with SMCA Charitable Trust of which Rtn. P Bowmick is a member.

Today, 18 Nov, at Venugopal School, Choolai, tuition fee scholarship to 31 students of the school was presented in the presence of School Headmistress and teachers. The project supports meritorious students from economically weaker section of the society, and aims to ignite aspiration in young minds. Proud of the one of the many projects towards better society.

A career guidance programme for the students of Kodambakkam Govt. School was organised on 17 Nov. Subject expert speakers organised by our school projects partner Kalanjiyam Trust addressed the students on the various career options available after the students complete their 12th standard studies. 

Our Community Learning Centre (CLC) at Kattur village off OMR, Chennai got off to a fresh start with beginning of programmes - tailoring and after-class tuition for children. Rtn Gopalakrishnan - District Chair for Vocational Services was the chief guest at the function held at the Centre on 16 Nov. The Centre is run by our vocational training service provider, M/s ACDS. In the pic, the children on the right are part of the evening tuition classes under the Illam Thedi Kalvi programme.

Today our Club presented tuition fee Scholarship to 40 students of Don Bosco School, Vyasarpadi today, as part of our Scholarship project to support more than 250 students. Rev. Fr. Principal of the school was so appreciative of our Club, he went eloquent on our support to their institution. President Bina was the chief guest and gave a perfect motivational address to the students. A Saturday morning well spent to uplift the students from underprivileged society around us. 

A session on "Using the Internet safely" was conducted for the students of Govt Hr. Sec. School, Kodambakkam, and our community project partner Kalanjiyam Trust organised it. The session imparted the opportunities and risks in online world through group discussion for the classes 6th to 12th. The sessions were conducted over four days period from 3 Oct - 6 Oct. 'I was thinking online purchases are safe and discounts are generally a loss for sellers, I never thought there will be a scam in pricing and quality', commented lyyappan, student of Class XII C at the end of the session.

Our Club organised a blood donation camp at Boaz Public School on Sunday 24 September where Rotarians and general public eagerly donated blood. Total of more than 30 units was collected and donated to VHS Blood Bank.

Our Club along with Rotary Clubs of Metropolis, Chennai Capital, Chennai Amethyst, Chennai Metrozone and the Kalpavriksha Trust installed and inaugurated a 500lph Water RO Plant at the Chennai Boys High School in Saidapet. The school serves 1500 students from 6th-12th standard. Thanks to the project, now the students get clean drinking water, and the run-off water from the RO Plant is used for hand wash and washing vessels. The total cost of the project cost is 1.5Lakhs.
 

Our Caring for Little Hearts Project, in partnership with Rotary Club of Pasadena, USA, has completed 500 surgeries so far, saving lives of children born with congential heart diseases in Tamil Nadu. To commemorate the good work done, a function was organised on 26 August at Hotel Savera, where representation from the corporate sponsors, senior doctors and administrators from Sooriya hospital, showed how close the Little Projects project was for all of them. The project was started during the year 2017-18 and has seen two global grants, and the third grant approved recently. As our Rtn. Ajit Gautam put it, "Nicely organised 90 minutes followed by a lovely dinner."

August is a busy month for our Club with several projects being inaugurated. We kick started the installation of Interact Clubs at St. Antony's School, counselling sessions at Dr. Nirmala Girls Hr. School, spoken English classes at Mary Clubwala Jadhav School, and Sacred Hearts School, among others. These projects bring about a positive change in the lives of these students.

Vision Mission is our Club's unique signature project for the Rotary year 2023-24, where men/women needing eye care surgery for retinal defects will be offered free treatment and or surgery. Timely treatment can prevent blindness in those who have retinal issues. The project will be done at VHS Hospital and our Club President Bina Boaz signed an MoU with the hospital. The surgeries will commence soon.  

Our Club participated in the World Breast Feeding Week 2023 function organised by Government Chilren Hospital, Egmore, jointly with Rotary District 3232 Community Service Health team. Our Club presented gifts to laxating mothers at the hospita.

Our Club inaugurated several programmes at schools in Chennai on 25 July, to help students build their skills in speaking good English. The spoken English class at Jaigopal Garodia Girls School in Todhunter Nagar, Saidapet, Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School, Saidapet and Nirmala Girls Hr Sec School@ Ashok Nagar are inaugrated by our Club President Bina Boaz and our Club Vocational Services Director Rajan Babu. It was a busy day and our priceless contribution to the development of the youth of our country.

The Rotary year 2023-24 started with a project in partnership with Rotary Club of Velachery to tree saplings near the Perungudi Mass Rapid Train Service (MRTS) station. Our member M C Srikanth roped in M/s McDermott company to sponsor 100 trees all of which were planted by our members, our young Annette Aadhiran and the staff of M/s McDermott Co. This is an ongoing project of Rotary Club of Velachery since 2021 and the trees are very well cared for, and has since grown to be the largest microforest in Chennai. It is on the road leading to the Velachery station from the Perungudi station. Pic courtesy: The Hindu.

Our Club has been involved with shcool development projec at Goverment Hr. Secondary School, Kodambakkam where more than 1000 students study. Regular teaching support, counselling, computer skills and extra curricular activities are provided to the school. The project for the school academic year 2023-24 have just started, and the best students are awareded once every quarter. At the function held at the school on 17 July, commemorating the birthday of Shri. Kamaraj, the former Chief Ministrer of Tamil Nadu, certificates and rewards for the meritorious students of the school were presented. Our President Rtn. Bina Boaz was the chief guest at function.

The election to the new office bearers of our Club for the Rotary year 2024-25 was held on 19 December 2023, and Rtn. K Narayanan and his team of office bearers were elected unopposed to serve the Club. Club Advisor Rtn. Sridharan presided as the Election Officer. Green Rotarian Parasuraman was elected to serve as the Secretary of the Club. After the conclusion of the election, members shared their most proud moments of their annettes and grand children. It was lovely evening of Rotary business and sharing happiness among ourselves.

Rotarian S R Madhu, a distinguished members of our Club has completed 25 years as Programme Committee Chairman of our Club, a rare distinction for anyone in Rotary world. A felicitation function was held to honour him with a citation for his service to Rotary and to our Club in particular, on 25 November 2023 evening at TAG Centre, Chennai. District Governor Ravi Raman presented the citation plaque to him. The evening followed with a tribute to Bollywood actor Dev Anand featuring hit songs from his movies, with interludes from our one and only S R Madhu. 

A permanent office for our Club's Trust was opened and inaugurated on 5 October 2023, at the office of our member Rtn. B B Vengatesh, in Alwarpet. PDG Natrajan Nagoji did the honours of inaugurating the premise with simple cutting of ribbon. Southerners thank Rtn. Vengatesh for the generosity.

Rtn. Sifi and her son from Uganda who are on a visit to Chennai attended our weekly meeting on 26 September 2023. Interestingly the topic of our meeting was 'Women Reservation Bill' and Rtn. Sifi and her son opined that the challenge is similar in her own country too. Rotary has taken a leap with framing DEI policies in the year 2021 and it continues guide Rotary movment. Rotary is truly modern and forward looking.

A palace in the heart of the city, hardly known to many, we Southerners had the unique opportunity to visit the palace of Prince of Arcot, 'Amir Mahal' in Royapettah and interact with the Dewan and Heir-Aparent Nawabzada Mohamed Asif Ali, the son of His Highness Nawab Mohamed Abdul Ali, the current titualar Prince of Arcot. Their ancestors once ruled several parts of South India. Nawabzada Asif Ali and his gracious spouse Seema Ali hosted and interacted us with us over a cup of coffee / tea, and shared their history, culture, heritage, business, passion and many more. It was an enchanting chat. Nawabzada is a multi-talented personality and a musician himself, belted out a few songs from his piano as our parting gift. The visit ended with Southerners racing to Presidency Club for yummy briyani and sumptuous luch. A Sunday like no other, truly. 

Rotary year starts every 1 July and the new President takes the baton of the Club. The first meeting of the Rotary year is always special and members look forward to it, and it also sets the working tone and style of the President. Here our Club Presidnet Bina Boaz addressed the members. As per our tradition, the first meeting was addressed by PDG Subramanian (Subbu) and he spoke on the Rotary Theme 'Create Hope in the World'. It was truly inimitable PDG Subbu.

Rtn. K S Jayaraman, 87 years, an active and long serving member of our Club bid adieu to his life in India as he is moving to USA to live with his children. Rtn. Jayaraman, 'One man army' in Rotary has single handedly formed 17 Rotary Clubs all over Tamil Nadu and in Chennai. He was instrumental in our Club building 'Dana Berg' Centre at Anna University. At the farewell meeting held on 11 July 2023, he was felicitated and bid adieu. We wish Rtn. Jayaraman all the very best.

Twleve students passed out of the Home Nursing course in April 2024, sponsored by our Club at ANEW, the NGO in Anna Nagar. These students get immediately obsorbed as home nurses and make gainful livelihood. Our President Bina Boaz was the guest of honour at the valedictory function of Home Nursing Course held on 12 April 2024, and distributed the certificates to the students.

A Leadership skills and Communication workshop was organised for the students of PCKG School, and conducted by specialist trainers from our vocational service partner Kalangiyam Trust. The workshop was conducted in December 2023 before the school closed for half yearly holidays. The students enthusiastically participated in the workshop.

The vocational service programme offering home nursing skills by our Club to 12 female students at ANEW, the vocational skills NGO was started in October 2023. At the simple function held at the centre, our Club President Bina Boaz inaugurated the course as the chief guest. Rtn. Rajan Babu, vocational service director of the Club was the guest of honour and organised for the programme. This 6 months long programme will equip the students to work as home nurses and give them gainful employment at the end of the programme.

In run up to the public exams, our Club facilitated specail after hour classes to 80 students of Class 10 of Kodambakkam Govt School where our Club already conducts 'Education Development Programme'. This after hour classes are conducted by the school teachers who spend extra hours to give special attention to students in Tamil & Science subjects. As added incentive, the students are offered dinner, sponsored by our Club.

It was a marathon of valedictory of 'Spoken English' programme organised by our Club at various government and government-aided schools in Chennai. The started with the function at Jaigopal Garodiya Govt Hr Sec School, Saidapet, followed by functions at Saidapet Corporation Girls School, Dr. K K Nirmala Govt. Girls Hr. Sec. School, Ashok Nagar, Mary Clubwala Jadhav Girls Hr. Sec. School, Egmore and ending with the function at Sacred Heart Matric Hr. Sec. School, Church Park, Anna Salai. In each of the schools the children displayed their English speaking skills through role plays, skits, and oratory. Happy to be seeding an educated society.

Star of the Quarter, the special award to students of Kodambakkam Govt School, for exemplary overall performance and conduct was presented on 1 December 2023 at the function held in the school. As part of our school development programme initiated in this school, along with our project partner Kalanjiyam Trust, this award recognises students who do well in studies, attendance and discipline during the last months. This project makes deep positive impact on the students.

Rotaractors from Asan College of Arts & Science in Pallikaranai distributed relief materials to people affected by the recent Michuang cyclone in Chennai. They pooled in money and distributed food, bed sheets and other relief materials. Way to go Asanites. Likewise, our Club supported the relief work of Vyasai Tholargal in Vyasarpadi and and our member Rotarian Kalpana organised to distributed relief materials to people in cyclone-affected areas, specifically people of Velachery, Manapakkam, and Mangadu. Our members contributed to these projects. 

The Star of the Quarter award, as part of our School Development project at PCKG School, Kodambakkam was presented to students who scored well on studies, attendance and overall discipline. The award is presented every quarter of the year. In the picture, Shri. Ravi, Trustee of Kalanjiyam Trust and Mr. Sakthivel, Headmaster of the school presents the award to a student..

Our Club organised an opthalmic (eye) check up for the students of St. Anthony's School, Egmore on 28 November 2023. In the day long camp organised in association with Udhi Eye Clinic, specialised doctors inspected the vision health of the students of the school, and prescribed treatment and spectacles for those who required. This project was done as part of the Interact Services of the Club.

Our Club has embarked on a new scholarship project to help meriotrious students with tuition fee support, and to help shape the future of our future generation. Under this project, close to 250 less-previleged but meritorious students (with 60% marks in the annual exams) from 7 schools are identified. Based on the scrutiny of their scholarship application, the tuition fee is paid directly to the school. As the next step, visits to the schools to meet the students + parents and announce the confirmed scholarship is set in motion this month.

Today, we visited Baynes School, Vepery to meet the students and teachers. While we expected to speak to the students and parents one to one basis, the school did a surprise by organising an assembly meeting with the 17 children, their parents and teachers. When we annoiunced the amount sanctioned for each student, there was a thunderous applause and several sparkling eyes. we also interacted with few students. The school HM thanked us for the support. A project to help shape the future of the less-priveleged children around us. Watch this space for more update from this project.