Continuing with our efforts to do more, we launched a new program, called ‘See and Learn’, for students of our Interact Club Schools. Under this program, we shall be taking students of classes 11 and 12 to various Industries to give them exposure of different vocations/career options. In the schools which don’t have senior secondary classes we shall take students from Class 10.
Under this program, we took 100 students from DPS, Chandigarh, in four batches of 25 each, to Drish Shoes, Panchkula where they were taken on a guided tour of the factory, followed by a question-answer session and refreshments. We express our gratitude to PP Atmaram Singh and Rtn. IS Paul for offering to host the students at Drish.
It is hoped that this activity will make a meaningful contribution to the development and decision making of our the youth, in their crucial years of learning.
Peace was the buzzword during the 11th February meeting as President A.P. Singh welcomed the students and their two teachers, Alpa and Doug, from Webb School, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. He also welcomed the Interactors and teachers from DPS, Sri Aurobindo, St. Johns and Bhawan.
We were joined by Mr Kiran Malhotra and his wife Rama Malhotra. Kiran is President Indo-German Chamber and Ambassador of Cologne city in Germany. Mrs Vinita Arora, principal of Bhavan Vidyalaya, was also present.
The meeting was planned to understand the present day youth’s perspective on the subject of ‘Peace and conflict prevention/resolution’.
Four Interactors from India and two from the USA expressed their viewpoints. Their views can be summarised as: Youth desire to work for peace and mission of Rotary basics teaches them to follow the path. Through the exchange of ideas the youth from different cultures gain perspective to work together. Youth need to understand to work for a peaceful tomorrow and it is essential to engage youth in that endeavour. Youthful energy should be directed to build peace. There is a need to develop tools for active change makers. Youth should be encouraged to have capability and welcome an opportunity to work with government. This is a big communication challenge which needs to be overcome by Rotarians to develop a sustainable model.
Vani Adlakha from Aurobindo iterated that hate can not drive hate but love can bring love. Angry youth need to be trained to learn that they should stop being trouble makers. She said,”there is no path to peace, peace is the path for a harmonious tomorrow. We want to live in peace not rest in peace.”
Amit Kaur warned that presently we are blinded by desires and are exploiting resources. Humans are separated by political, religious and other considerations. We long for harmonious living and for that we need to put aside differences and peace is the only answer. We need to actively work for peace so that peace becomes a state of mind. We need to build kindness through small gestures for a kinder and peaceful world.
Ms Alpa emphasised on the benefits of exchange of students within the two schools since the students learn the power to be tolerant and change perception through communication.
PRIP RK Saboo informed the audience that Knoxville was the most secure city during the world war as it had the nuclear arsenal and Rtn. Bill Sergeant, who spearheaded the polio eradication program of Rotary was in charge of security at Knoxville during the war.
Rtn Reema Dewan, while presenting a formal vote of thanks, said that
peace has no language and no boundaries. Through (student) exchange
Interactors pick up pieces to learn that path forward is peace for the world.
The Charter for the newly formed Interact Club of MDAV School, Sector 22, Chandigarh was presented to the Principal Ms. Neelam Sharma on 15 December 2018, by President A.P. Singh, who also pinned the members of the Board of the new club.
Our regular Monday meeting was postponed to 14 November (Children’s Day) to celebrate Interact Utsav – a cultural evening. The idea was to celebrate and recognise on a larger scale the good work being done by Rotary’s youngest partners in service.
The event was co hosted by Delhi Public School.
Hon’ble Justice Jitendra Chauhan was the Chief Guest and Mr. Silvain Choin, Director of Alliance Francaise, was the special guest.
Welcoming the guests, President A.P. Singh briefed the audience on the history of Interact clubs. He informed that first Interact club was chartered on 5 May 1962, at Melbourne High School, Florida, USA, and presently we have more than 20,000 Interact clubs all over the world, with a membership of more than 4.6 lakh.
The Interact clubs have been doing amazing work in service of humanity in different fields, specially in water sanitation and hygiene, environment, working with senior citizens, etc.
The Rotary Club Chandigarh-sponsored Interact clubs presented a cultural extravaganza of music, dance and drama.
Justice Chauhan appreciated the energy, skills, rhythm and enthusiasm displayed by the youngsters. He also appreciated Rotary’s effort to involve the youth and getting them on board for the service to humanity. He cited examples of service by Bhai Kanhayia and Mother Teresa and was pleased to see the youth in service trying to contribute for the betterment of the community. He called upon the youth not to deprive a person who has lack of facilities when they enter the competitive world.
“Schools participating in the service activities are temples of education of heart, he added, wherein they are sensitising the kids on having a heart and preparing them to regulate their conduct in future since they are going to provide leadership of future.”
He also called upon the students to always keep the child alive in themselves.
Justice Chauhan and DG Parveen C. Goyal awarded the citations to the schools. Principals/representatives of AKSIPS, Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education, Bhavan Vidyalaya, St. John’s High School, Sri Guru Harkishan Senior Secondary Public School and Delhi Public School were honoured for their work in different fields of service through their respective Interact clubs.
PDG Yoginder Dewan and his wife, PDG Dhian Chand, PDG Manmohan Singh, Presidents of RC SAS Nagar and RC Chandigarh City Beautiful also attended the function.
Vice President of our Club and Principal of DPS, Rtn. Reema Dewan, while presenting a formal vote of thanks, offered to host the Interact Utsav every year in the school. She iterated that the empowerment of the youth will usher in an ideal future for the nation.
We are grateful to Delhi Public School for co-hosting the event.
We successfully organized and hosted RYLA@Chail on 5-7 October 2018. More than 80 students from our Interact schools participated. The two nights, three days event was held at Snow Trail Camps near Chail, Himachal Pradesh.
The participants not only had an opportunity to fine-tune their leadership skills, including time management and mind-fullness, through a series of sessions by experts, but also had an opportunity to experience out-door activities that included use of rope bridges, nature walk, star gazing, etc.
CLICK HERE to see the pictures and videos of the event.
29 September 2018, which was marked by the visit of the RI President Barry Rassin and the First Lady Esther Rassin, was a proud moment for our Club. The theme of the meeting was: “Peace in the world” and the venue was the sprawling courtyard of Elante Mall that provided a perfect ambience for the Rally. The Chief Guest and his gracious wife were pleasantly surprised to see a large assembly of nearly 2500 Rotaractors and Interactors – all chic, enthusiastic, peaceful, and sitting on the floor or standing, not the least discomforted or unnerved by the hot sun.
President A.P. Singh welcomed RI President Barry and the First Lady Esther. Thereafter, Rtn. Reema Diwan, Vice-President of our Club, introduced the Chief Guest. Then followed a melodious medley by Interactors of Bhawan Vidyalaya, a dance by MCM DAV Rotaract Club, and a radio show by DPS Interact Club – all performances had world peace as their theme.
After the audience was regaled by students, Barry and Esther released the Peace balloons, coloured white and blue, and administered the pledge of Peace to the audience.
The address of RI President Barry can be summed up in one sentence: “If you touch a stone, you are touching the past; if you touch a flower, you are touching the present; but if you touch a life, you are touching the future”. He also gave a simple formula for ever-lasting peace and that is to have good relationships and positive thoughts.
The function ended with a vote of thanks by Rtn. Sartaj Lamba, District Chair Interact.
On 31 August 2018, the Interact Club of Sri Guru Harkrishan Sr. Sec. Public School, Sector 40–C, Chandigarh, organized the Installation Ceremony for the year 2018-19.
The ceremony commenced with National Anthem, and was followed by welcome address by the Principal, Mrs. Pritinder Kaur. The school choir presented shabad, Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ahe, thereafter. A report on the club’s activities and achievements during 2017-18 was presented by Akrita Singh, the outgoing President. The new President, Gurbani Singh, introduced her team and promised to achieve excellence in accomplishing proposed activities in the new session.
President A.P.S. Dhiman congratulated the Interactors and encouraged them to push their energy beyond any limitations to serve humanity globally.
On 1 August 2018, the new cabinet of the Interact Club of St. John’s High School was installed. President A.P. Singh, along with few of the Club members graced the event.
The ceremony began with a prayer to the Almighty, followed by a
hymn and lighting of the lamp. The outgoing Secretary, Yuvraj Dhananjaya, thanked the previous year’s cabinet for the extraordinary work done and handed the torch over to the new office-bearers. Incoming president, Shaurya Mahajan, put forth the club’s goals for 2018-19.
The programme ended with a “nukkar natak” on the prevalent social issue of alcoholism and addiction.
The Investiture Ceremony of the Interact Club of AKSIPS 41 Smart School was organised in the school premises on 31 July 2018.
The programme began with the motivational song “Aashayein”, presented by the school choir.
The newly elected office bearers of the Interact Club were presented with the collar and the collar pins by the President A. P. Singh Dhiman. The outgoing President of the Interact Club, Naman Ahuja, showcased the achievements and the innumerable projects undertaken by the Club in year 2017-18, which included visits to old age homes and orphanages, cleanliness drives and anti-cracker rally.
The team 2018-19 is: President – Rohan Sharma; Vice President – Parikshit; Secretary – Himanshu Gupta; Joint Secretary – Tanisha; Treasurer – Aditi; Sergeant-at-Arms – Avleen; Directors – Aviraj, Ankit, Arshdeep K, Gurbir K.
On 27 July 2018, Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education conducted the installation ceremony of Interact club. President A.P.S. Dhiman presided over the function.
The ceremony started with Ganesh Vandana. Outgoing President, Shweta, gave an insight of her team’s accomplishments and invited the Incoming President, Jagriti, to share her plans for the year ahead.
The new office bearers are: President – Jagriti, Vice President – Gunjan, Secretary – Hansika, Joint Secretary – Rohini, Treasurer – Raj Pratap.
The children promised to bring leadership into action with the pledge of SERVICE ABOVE SELF. President Dhiman praised the school management and the Interactors for putting
up a great show. He motivated the young Interactors to work for the betterment of society with the virtue of leadership, forbearance and benevolence and wished them good luck for the future endeavour.
The participants not only had an opportunity to fine-tune their leadership skills, including time management and mind-fullness, through a series of sessions by experts, but also had an opportunity to experience out-door activities that included use of rope bridges, nature walk, star gazing, etc.
Rotary Club Chandigarh 