Perfect Diwali Gift for Special Children – A note

This school, located at Sardar Kanoji Angre School No 24 in Shukrawar Peth, Pune, provides special education and physiotherapy to 25 multiple challenged children. Their previous school bus was an open Trax jeep meant for 8 persons, without any seat belts and safety covers at all and carrying 15-20 students. This project had its start when GSE Team Leader PDG Steve Day of RID 6600 (Ohio, USA) visited this school in February 2008 and decided to do a Matching Grant (MG) project with RC Pune Ganeshkhind. Rotary International (TRF) sanctioned MG 68820 between RC Pune Ganeshkhind and RC Perrysburg, Ohio, USA for a special school bus (with rear ramp for wheelchair entry/exit, adjustable shoulder/waist seat belts for all 24 seats and flashing lights/stop signs during entry/exit of students) worth Rs 10,07,500. This bus will benefit the 25 special children (to their parents' and staff relief) by providing them with safe and proper journey from their homes to school and back. CSE will also be able to take the children comfortably for various education and training programs around Pune city as well as picnics nearby.

Our thanks and gratitude to PDG Steve Day and his club members at RC Perrysburg for their complete support and patience in making this MG project possible and providing the children with the best Diwali gift possible. Thank you, Rotary (TRF, RID 6600 & 3131)! Many thanks from the special children. The completed bus was delivered on 7th October 2009, when prayers were offered at CSE by the children themselves in the presence of RC Pune Ganeshkhind members and IPDG Vilas Jagtap.

RIPN (2011/12 RI President Nominee) Rtn Kalyan Banerjee will do the honour of handing over this special bus to the CSE children on 1st November during the RID 3131 TRF seminar at Symbiosis Institute of Management, Range Hills in Pune.