projects
WHAT WE DO
Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.
A guiding philosophy of The Vocational Service Team at RCB. The Rotarians at RCB realize that there are millions in the country who are unable to earn a living wage. due to illiteracy, insufficient education and lack of skills and is determined to break this demeaning cycle of poverty which leads to grievous health issues, crime, substance abuse, and other anti social activities. Though the task may seem insurmountable, RCB's Vocational Service Committee relentlessly pursues its mission to educate and impart skills training at the lowest levels.
A permanent Vocational Training Centre has been built in the premises of Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya in 2013 with facilities for training in computers, garment design and tailoring, facility management , retail and health. Regular programs are conducted here for adult literacy, written and spoken English, geriatrics, nursing, career & employment counselling Responding immediately in 2014 to the Prime Minister' s call to Make in India, RCB signed an MOU with National Skill Development Corporation , New Delhi, ,to synchronize its own efforts with Indian industry's most required skills. The Vocational Service Committee has also instituted awards to recognize and symbolically raise the self esteem of people who serve society at the grassroot levels. One such award is the annual Pride of Workmanship Award which has been awarded to committed and dedicated workers like Manhole Cleaners, Police Constables and Artisans among others. The NGO Award and the Corporate Citizen Award on the other hand are awards that recognize and give an impetus to NGO's and Corporates in Bangalore who like Rotary provide selfless service to the needy.
What We Do...
I have been hearing a lot of buzz about the Rotary Four Way Test lately. I have been reading a lot about it and listening to speakers talking about it as well. One question really popped up in my mind – Is this simple Rotary Four Way Test really relevant today?
I have been hearing a lot of buzz about the Rotary Four Way Test lately. I have been reading a lot about it and listening to speakers talking about it as well. One question really popped up in my mind – Is this simple Rotary Four Way Test really relevant today?
Well, to find an answer, I spoke to our President Rtn.Ramkumarr Seshu – who passionately practices and advocates the Rotary Four Way Test day-in and day-out.
Before I spoke to him, I did some homework about this test. It was penned by Herbert J Taylor, an American businessman who had huge problems running his aluminum product distribution business during the early 1930s. One day, he sat down, introspected and penned this simple test and put each and every aspect of running his business under this test and took decisions that adhered to this test. The result was – a miraculous turnaround of his business!
Later, in 1940, during his tenure as Rotary International Director, this test was adopted by Rotary International as one of the guiding principles of all Rotarians worldwide.
Looking at this simple test of 1930s, I became a little curious as to how its adherence can make businesses profitable in today’s era. So, Ram and I discussed point by point about this test and its relevance in today’s era. Here is a gist of what Ram had to say.
The pulse of Rotary Club of Bangalore is the Service it has provided to the less fortunate in society for over 8 decades.
“ I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show ,or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I will not pass this way again.”
William Penn
The pulse of Rotary Club of Bangalore is the Service it has provided to the less fortunate in society for over 8 decades.
2 areas of people’s lives where RCB strives to make the most difference are Health and Education.
The Rotary TT Blood Bank , The Rotary Mutthappa Attavar Memorial Hospital, the Rotary Bangalore ICICI Prudential Dialysis Centre, Stem-Cell Registry are a few of the many major health initiatives of Rotary Club of Bangalore.
It goes without saying that the Club is a front runner in Rotary’s fight to eradicate Polio. Now that it has been eradicated from India , RCB continues the vigilance and efforts regardless, to maintain this status.
An array of ongoing health initiatives include Blood Donation Camps, Pediatric Heart Surgeries, the limb –a-day programme and many more. Use Pictures and text from the RCB brochure).
Rotary Club of Bangalore considers education for underprivileged boys and girls its moral duty to fulfill. Towards this it owns and manages its own High school, Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya which educates around 500 boys and girls. Situated in Nagadevanahalli , Bangalore ,the spacious and fully equipped school with its experienced staff is a symbol of good education.
Around 200 scholarships are also offered to poor students by the Menda and Hyagriv Education funds.
Besides its own school RCB has built 20 Primary schools in Bangalore and 20 in the rural area of Malur , close to Bangalore.
The Light-for-education project donates solar lamps to rural school going children. The project is also providing solar lighting to Government Girls Hostels in Karnataka. A very successful project, it has seen the attendance and academic results of students improve dramatically.
Taking the Matching Grant and Global Grant route of Rotary International’s force multipliers, the club has increased its financial ability many fold to undertake bigger projects like constructing Toilet Blocks, donating ambulances and providing school infra structure..
Besides Health and Education, Rotary Club of Bangalore has expanded its scope of Community Service to now cover Rotary International’s 6 Areas of Focus.
RCBians join the Club’s Avenue of International Service and experience an exciting and exceptional year. Here members strive to create and enhance International understanding, goodwill and peace by connecting with Rotarians and other service minded people across the world. The avenue takes up several initiatives during a Rotary year.
It organizes and executes Rotary Global Grant projects – Rotary International’s unique system which empowers the club to undertake mega projects that touch the lives of large numbers of underprivileged people. Through the Global Grant system RCB multiplies its funds many fold through contributions from overseas clubs and matching by Rotary international.
It conducts innovative events and fund raising drives for the benefit of RCB and Rotary Foundation - ‘ The Night of the Consuls’ an evening when ambassadors and consuls of countries meet at RCB to debate international humanity issues , Kala for Vidya’( Art for Education)the popular art exhibition and sale and ‘Dinner for a Cause’ the celebrity fund raiser dinner are some of the events that Bangaloreans look forward to each year,.
- Sister Club Relationship – The committee reaches out to clubs in various countries and establishes sister club relationships with them, essentially formalizing a special relationship and bond to work closely together to further International understanding and peace through meaningful projects.
- Friendship Exchange - A Friendship visit is one of the most exciting annual features of the club handled by this committee. On invitation from overseas clubs a group of RCBians goes visiting them atleast once every year. Visits have been made to countries like the USA, New Zealand, Australia,Malaysia and Sri Lanka to name a few.The home hospitality extended by the members of host clubs is truly memorable and evidence that nations can work together for the good of all.
- Disaster Relief - When calamities like the Tsunami and Nepal earthquake strike RCBians are first to mobilize and move manpower, money and materials for immediate assistance to the disaster areas.
- Rotary Foundation - The International Service Committee recognizes outstanding members and donors of the club with the Paul Harris Fellow, Major Donor and Arch Klumph Society Awards. Because of its efforts Rotary Club of Bangalore is a proud 100% Paul Harris Fellow club.