Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Anand being installed the President

“It feels funny when people call me ‘too-young-for-it’. Age has never been a bar for me. What matters is sheer team-play & perfection.”
Anand Prakash (President)

“The first thing on my mind is to ensure an eco-friendly Diwali this year. Good thing is our people have also stared to believe in it. What more can I ask for than their faith in us!”
Chander Prakash (Secretary)

Smita becomes the Treasurer

“The play we performed last year was so well received. This year, the vision has broadened & the responsibility has increased. It certainly means higher expectations. We will live up to that ‘plus one’ act desired of us!”
Smita Prasad (Treasurer)

“I’m amazed with how these youngsters understand the responsibility laid upon them. Still impressive are the results they come up with, realizing their goals through dedication, team-work & utter servitude.”
Rtn Narender Katyal (President – Rotary Club)

Marking an august beginning in the second week of August, Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Extension saw the installation of newly elected board officers for its Interact Club. The Club, which is sponsored by Rotary Club of South Delhi Metropolitan, represents Rotary Club in schools. Interact was installed in Deepalaya 5 years ago with a vision of preparing the students for a better tomorrow and has been a success not only in terms of number of members every year but their achievements also.

The ceremony was organized to install & felicitate new board officers – Anand Prakash (President), Nilofar Khan (Vice President), Chander Prakash (Secretary) and Smita Prasad (Treasurer). In addition, Smriti, Rajni, Nidha and Kamla were designated the Directors for this year.

The occasion was marked by the presence of many senior members of the Rotary Club. Former Rotary president Rtn TK Mathew, who is also the Secretary and Chief Executive of Deepalaya, was the Chief Guest of the day. The Friends of Deepalaya in Germany, who have been helping the cause and vision of Deepalaya as a legal group in Germany for more than 14 years, were also present.

Expressing his joy over last year’s success, Rtn Narender Katyal, president - Rotary Club, emphasised over the year’s objective for Interact. He began with the fact that more than 25000 children die of ill health and mal-nourishment every year. “We have to make this year the one for children. The Deepalaya Interactors have done a good job and the expectations today are only higher.” He offered to provide every possible help in area in the area of child health, beginning from distributing free ORS packets to organizing massive health camps.

The Interact Club Adult Education initiative markedly resulted in enrolment & education of 50 people, all aged above 45, last year. In after-school classes organised in the school premises, they learned alphabets & have now started off with words. Another remarkable achievement of the Club was the ‘Anti Tobacco & Smoking’ campaign which began in November & has two success stories to its credit where a man & a woman completely quit tobacco. Following this recap of last year’s activities by former Secretary Kiran, Anand and Chander briefed the audience about the plan of action for this year.

Rtn Manjit Sawhney congratulated Rtn Mathew for being able to start & sustain an institution which imparts quality education to socio-economically-deprived children. He beckoned the students to think big and laid extra emphasis on education of the girl child. “Educate a boy and you educate an individual. Educate a girl & an entire generation gets enlightened”, he said.

Rtn Mathew’s words markedly highlighted the event when he proposed setting up two more Interact Clubs at Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony & Ramditti JR Narang Deepalaya School. ‘Make dreams real’ was how he introduced the theme of the year – simple & well put. The former Rotary president shared how Rotarians have & continue to make a difference to the society. He seemed particularly impressed by the results & achievements for the year 2007-08 and pointed out that the students at Deepalaya School at Kalkaji Extension have understood the concept of being an Interact member, and have put it to the best of their potential and capabilities. His words received a huge applause by the audience.

The Rotarian also took pride in introducing to the audience four students from Modern High School of Dubai, who were on a Student Exchange Programme with Deepalaya for a week. He spoke about how they can share their experience with specially-abled children at Deepalaya and in return, gain themselves considerable insight into the rough side of life.

Thanking Rtn Mathew for those words of wisdom, and taking ahead the ceremony, Rtn Sayantan Sinha appealed to the audience to further encourage these children from a completely different stratum of the society. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Nilofar Khan, followed by the major achievements & announcements for the year. With determination in their eyes and a will to make it big in their hearts, these young achievers certainly reflected in them, Rotarians of tomorrow.