Jul '12: DISTRIBUTION OF UMBRELLAS

V Care Trust provided us an opportunity to be of help to the Society in whatever possible way. With the monsoons here in full swing what could be a better gift than an Umbrella. The same was provided to the Tata Memorial Patients.

Jul '12: DANCE CLASSES

We are pleased to inform you that with some firsts we have added one more in the list and VOCATIONAL TRAINING in DANCE for the ShraddhaOrganisation at Santacruz has taken its first steps from 2nd July 2012. Classes are held every Monday 4.30-5.30pm for approximately 50 children. Pojaa & Aarvind from the institute Dance On My Tune, give their precious time and train these children and are likely to include these children in their shows / performances.

Jul '12: ANAEMIA CAMP FOLLOWUP

Follow up camp of our Anemia detection camp held in January 2012 was undertaken at Shraddha NGO on 31st July 2012. Once again we conducted blood tests,this time on 98 children. After the results of the test, medicines were provided by us.

Anaemia is such a simple condition to detect and treat and yet many underprivileged children suffer a lower quality of life because of it. We hope that with these camps conducted on a regular basis, we can make a difference in the health and subsequently, the quality of life, of these needy children.

Jul '12: HELP A CHILD SCHEME

We contributed a sum of Rs. 30,000 to the 'Help a child' project of the Inner Wheel Clubs of Dist 314, from our newspaper drive collection.

Jul '12: EDUCATION AID TO BLIND STUDENTS

We helped 3 blind students fulfill their goal of higher education by sponsoring them in our endeavor to accomplish goals set forth for the year, to Be A Friend to the Underprivileged... we had a request from 3 blind students who wished to study and needed our help to fund their education

Aug '12: INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

On 15th August, 2012, we celebrated Independence Day along with our Rotary Club at 3 places. 300 children were entertained, given snacks and gifts.

Aug '12: DOOR STEP SCHOOL

Doorstep is a registered voluntary NGO working to promote education and impart literacy amongst the children from 35 slums in South Mumbai. It caters to a group of children on the street Doorstep School runs schools on wheels and reaches out to nearly 50,000 children. We helped them with English and Math workbooks, Science kits and wooden blocks.

18th Aug '12: 1st CLUB CORRESPONDENT EVENT

Our first CC Event was a movie, "Ek Tha Tiger" @ The New Excelsior Theatre, with 104 underprivileged children. They had an exciting time watching their favorite star in action and relished the two rounds of refreshments provided to them before the movie began and also during intermission.

Aug '12: COMPUTER EDUCATION

In today's tech savvy world what better way than to impart an IT Education to girls. A professional computer education course at Softpro Computers for 10 underprivileged girls is what we have started, courtesy our member Poonam Mashru. With this education in hand the girls will be equipped professionally and can successfully take up any challenge in today's competitive world. 1 of them has already got a job.

9th Sep '12: POLIO - SNID

On the state nominated days of SNID for POLIO PLUS, we actively participated in creating awareness for this crippling, yet easily preventable disease, by putting up banners and by word of mouth.

We also supported this initiative by distributed food packets amongst volunteers manning the booths.

Oct '12: AID TO PARALI ASHRAM SCHOOL

Parali Ashram School is in Thane district. There are classes from Std1 to 10. The children are provided with both boarding and lodging. We helped them with all their text books, stationery, plates and towels. Even the smallest, most simple act can make a difference in someone's life in a very big way. What we thought was a small gesture (distributing books etc), was absolutely a life-changing event for the children, for which the trustees sent us a touching thank you letter. To be able to give these children so much happiness brought a tear to my eye. I hope that we can continue to touch the lives of many such children through our IWBB projects.

Oct '12: PRAYAAS - from darkness, take me to light

Fun, friends and family are a lethal combination - it was this heady mix that made Prayaas a resounding success. Immaculate planning and personal involvement from the team members reaped rich rewards.

District Chairman Amita Timbadia inaugurated the event at the Atrium of Phoenix Market City, Kurla. Other District dignitaries who attended were Association Vice President Pushpa Suryamurthy, District Vice Chairman Mrudula Dand, District Secretary Himadri Nanavati and Zonal Coordinator Sonu Punjabi.

The proceeds were shared with the Rotary Club, to light up the lives of those perpetually engulfed in darkness.

Oct '12: ORGANIC FARMING AT KHARGHAR

In October 2012 to set up an organic kitchen garden at the Naunihal Shelter for Girls at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. The project involves growing of organic vegetables and herbs throughout the year in the location, at minimum cost. The plants would be looked after by the residents.

Nov '12: DIWALI PARTY AT SHRADDHA

The children were very happy to receive firecrackers, snacks and CD player for their dance classes.

Dec '13: AUDIO EQUIPMENT TO BLIND GIRLS

In another effort to empower girl child we supported 6 blind girl students with their studies. As they are visually challenged they usually record lectures and play them back to memorize. We provided them with PHILIPS devices.

Dec '12: 2nd CC EVENT

An open bus ride for Cancer patients and families was organized on a Sunday. It included a wonderful joyride around the town with some refreshments.

Dec '12: CHRISTMAS PARTY

A Christmas party was organised for the children of the toy library of Wockhardt Foundation at Geeta Nagar. The children enjoyed the session of games and magic show. Gifts and snacks were also distributed.

Dec '12: BICYCLE PROJECT

We supported Rotary District Recycle Project by sponsoring 10 bicycles for the girl students.

10th Jan '13: KARAOKE EVENING AT J J HOME FOR THE AGED

We celebrated International Inner Wheel day at J J Home for the Aged. An extremely heart warming and satisfying event. Members danced and sang with the residents, and enjoyed the evening as much as them.

23rd Jan '13: ANAEMIA CAMP at SHRADDHA

Another anaemia camp was conducted for the children at Shraddha. A 115 children were tested, and treatment plans with medicines were provided for those who tested positive for anaemia. Follow ups were done for previously diagnosed and treated kids.

Jan '13: BE A FRIEND TO YOUNG CHAMPIONS

The Wockhardt Dolphins Team received their football gear from us. The Junior Championships League (the first professionally organised football league for children aged 5-12 years) is played every Saturday for 10 weeks. The objective is to inculcate team spirit and sportsmanship amongst the underprivileged children. This project was in association with the Wockhardt Foundation. We supported Geeta Nagar's Khel Khel Mein Football Championship by giving them appropriate football footwear, T-shirts, backpacks and water bottles.

Jan '13: 3rd CC EVENT ART COMPETITION

An Art Competition at the Amphitheatre, Kamala Nehru Park. 140 children from various NGO's participated amidst Republic Day celebrations. The children were pre informed of the theme BE A FRIEND; they were provided with art material and snacks.

Feb '13: CONSTRUCTION OF 25 TOILET BLOCKS AT WAKDI

Inner Wheel Clubs in Dist 314 in collaboration with Balwantrai Mehta Panchayatraj Jagruti Kendra, Kendra Shantivan are involved in various development activities in 40 villages in Panvel, namely education health, sanitation and hygiene. Despite government efforts our villages still lack basic amenities such as drinking water and sanitation. Thus, it is our objective to provide drinking water and sanitation. Shiravli Warchapada, a semi tribal village with 25 families have already been provided with convenient water facility by us last year. This year we have provided them with the toilet blocks. This will curb stomach ailments prevalent among village ladies to a great extent and also encourage cleanliness and hygiene.

Feb '13: 4th CC EVENT - VISIT TO MUSEUM

The Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya that is, our very own Museum at Regal Colaba was a bustling place early Saturday morning with about 80 children from the NGO "The Helping Hand" from Geetanagar along with their teachers and staff. This was our 4th CC Event and the children absorbed and enjoyed every moment of the visit including the movie on The Mummy. Following the museum visit they enjoyed their favourite dishes for lunch in the nearby garden. After a short break they enjoyed some ball play and with wonderful memories returned home. Sonia Gupta, Manisha Jhariwala, Nayana Kapadia and myself too came home with wonderful memories of the enthusiastic children and a memorable event
As told by Hemal Maskai.

24th Feb '13: 2nd POLIO - SNID

For the second SNID for POLIO PLUS, 15 IWBCC members along with Polio Chairman Anuja Shah took the time to reiterate the importance of polio vaccinations in person. Banners were also put up to create awareness, This drive was held at Priyadarshini Park and refreshments were provided to the volunteers manning the booth.

Apr '13: SAVE SUDAN

Our member Nita Shah's 11 year old son, Rushabh, undertook a heartening endeavour to help the people of South Sudan through an organisation known as 'Water for South Sudan'. A book named A Long Walk to Water inspired him to assist the foundation that helps provide fresh drinking water to the drought afflicted by drilling wells. Instead of a birthday party, young Rushabh organised a fund raising Fun-n-Fair for his 11th birthday, donating the proceeds to this noble cause. We made a contribution to support his cause and encourage him.

Apr '13: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS for PRIYANJ SPECIAL SCHOOL

Priyanj Special School is a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We helped them with musical instruments like Drum set, Octopod, Standing Congo and Organ for their Musical band. This would help them to perform at events and become self sufficient financially.

"Music is medicine for the mind. It is to the soul what water is for the body."

May '13: SOLAR LAMPS

Homes in villages around Sangamner and Akole that did not have MSEB grid connections were provided solar powered lights. 150-170 lights were procured from FOSERA and installed across different villages. The entire project took about a month to complete.

From darkness, these homes were taken to light using the revenue raised from our fundraiser Prayaas, along with a generous contribution from our Rotary Club.

May '13: BE A FRIEND, HAVE A HEART - A JOINT PROJECT WITH IWC of BORIVALI

The IWCs of Bombay Bayview and Borivali jointly funded the heart surgery of a 7 year old whose family could not afford the operation to fix a hole in her heart. Sonali was admitted to the hospital on 18th May and discharged on the 22nd, after a successful surgery. Many thanks to our Secretary who was on-site to make sure everything went smoothly for the family financially.

May '13: SHRADDHA WEEKENDS

Vocational Training Courses were conducted at the Shraddha centre in Khar. Workshops on various craft were conducted for 30 children, across 6 Fridays in April and May. Many members shared their expertise in different areas with the children.

1. 26th April: Quilting by Meghna, Tejal Desai, Kanan, Sejal Sheth, Sonia and Reepa
2. 3rd May: Diya making by Nimisha, Kavita, Monal, Insiyah and Nayana
3. 10th May: Paper Flowers and Photo Frames by Sonal Mehta, Mita, Arti
4. 17th May: Fabric Painting on Towels by Minu, ManishaJariwala and Sheetal
5. 24th May: Games session by Bina, Hemangi Anuja, Mitali, Rajni, Sonal Punatar and Vinita
6. 31st May: Cooking & Environment Protection by Manisha Shah, Sejal Shah and Hetal

On-going: FOOD SERVICE OUTSIDE TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

We continue to provide nutritious food outside The Tata Cancer Hospital to about 400 people including the patients and their family members, every Friday. As we may have heard of or are aware most of these patients are coming from outside Mumbai. Most times they are unable to afford proper lodging and boarding when they come for treatment. This is our little gesture to try and provide them comfort and in turn we come home with a satisfaction of having been able to reduce some pain and suffering.