Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), one of the largest financial services groups in the world, has further strengthened our conviction that corporates are truly carrying out acts of social responsibility. 21 employees of RBS India Development Centre (P) Ltd., Gurgaon, visited Deepalaya School Sanjay Colony on 13th June 2008 and gave such a wonderful time to our children. It was a time of nostalgia for the employees of RBS who relived their school days along with our children. In fact they were positively happy and thrilled to be like children amidst Deepalaya’s youngsters. For our children it was a time away from studies and fun-filled with competitions, gifts and refreshments.

52 of our children, chosen from classes V to X participated. Both the sides were divided into three groups. One group consisted of our children from Classes V, VI and VII who took part in a painting competition. The corresponding RBS group supplied the stationery for the painting and the topics were: Environment, My house and Festival. It was not just the RBS employees but even Deepalaya staff who were amazed at the kind of masterly work our youngsters produced. We do have budding M.F. Husseins among us! Bharati of Class VII-A, who drew on the theme of ‘Dussera Festival”, picked up the First prize. She expressed herself thus: “I cannot believe I won the First Prize! It is a memorable day for me. Thank You, Deepalaya.”. An additional consolation prize was given to Lalitha, a differently abled child of Class VI-B

Riveting games were conducted for the other two groups. The first was involved in a a ‘Three legged game’ and the second in a ‘Blind man – spot the body parts game’. Our youngsters had a roaring time and the air was filled with their laughter. Special prizes were given to the best performing children. All the children were happy as every one of them got a geometry box, chocolates and other eatables.

The employees of RBS were bowled over by the children. They were also overwhelmed by the work Deepalaya is doing for the children. Mr. Saurabh Bhola of RBS while thanking Deepalaya said, “I don’t have words to express this experience and all this was made possible courtesy to the amazing staff of Deepalaya I hope we can continue giving back to the community in one way or the other”. RBS has been so much impressed by the work of Deepalya that it has informed us that soon they will launch another such initiative with a different set of Deepalaya children. Impressed with the work of Deepalaya, RBS has expressed its desire to have a continuous association with us.