by Akshara. R, Director Projects Rotaract club of BVRIT Hyderabad
It was a typical day at college, and we were all gathered for a meeting about our donation drive. We were excited to plan and implement the drive, which focused on the donation of old clothes and sanitary napkins. The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation, and we were all eager to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Finally, the day of the visit to the orphanage arrived, and we were ready to go. The orphanage we were headed to was Radha Kishna Balika Bhavan in Toli Chowki. We had packed everything into the bus, with approximately 512 pieces of clothes and 1350 sanitary napkins. It was my first time participating in such a drive, and we were eager to learn and make a difference.
As we made our way to the orphanage, we sang songs and chatted excitedly. Upon arrival, we were filled with enthusiasm to meet all the people in the orphanage. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the warm smiles of the children and the staff. We unloaded the packages from the bus and kept them in their office before going through the formalities.
As we stepped out, we saw a small outdoor area with a playground, and an arch that read “The Hyderabad Children’s Aid Society.” We took a group photo on the steps leading up to it. We then spoke to the in-charge of the orphanage, who told us about the orphanage and the school that took care of the students from 1st to 10th class, providing them with free education.
We were joined by two members of the parent club, Vishal Sir, the director of media, and Dr. P. Shashikala Reddy ma’am, the dean of Osmania University. We had a small conversation with them before Madhavi ma’am, in-charge of the orphanage took us on a campus tour. She showed us the photo of the founder of the orphanage, and we took a tour of the school, going around the classes.
Shashikala ma’am had a pep talk with the students studying there then Madhavi ma’am showed us the common room where a lot of students were studying. And then we took a tour of the school. The students were incredibly welcoming, greeting us warmly and even saying our names in their cute and endearing way.
Then we took a tour of the kitchen we saw all the equipment required also spoke to the cook and got to know the routine of their meals.
We had a drone shot with the Rotaract club members and then gathered all the students in the common room. We had a conversation with them, asking them about their interests and any requirements they had. They listed their needs for medical health checks, height, and weight machines, Eamcet books, UPSC books, sports equipment, and more. Shashikala mam wanted to support their health and well-being after enquiring them about their needs.
We even got to speak to the students individually, and we were amazed at their determination and drive to succeed. We learned about their interests, hobbies, and future goals. We even got to know one student who wanted to become an IPS officer and was incredibly determined to make it happen and even some students had a great interest in veterinary doctor, as well as one of the students want to become captain of the Indian cricket team. They told us about their daily routines, co-curricular activities, and even their movie nights on Saturdays. Finally, it was time to leave, and we were happy yet sad to say goodbye. We took a final picture with them, and as we left, we felt like we had made a real difference in their lives.
As we walked out of the orphanage, I felt a sense of fulfillment and joy. Our donation drive brought so much happiness and hope to the kids at Radha Kishna Balika Bhavan. But it wasn’t just about the clothes and sanitary napkins, it was about the connections we had made with the students, the conversations we had, and the stories we had heard.
We walked back to the bus, feeling energized and motivated to do more. We brainstormed ideas for the next donation drive, discussing ways to make it even more impactful and engaging.
We were all excited by these ideas and made plans to implement them in the next drive. As we drove away from the orphanage, we knew that we had made a difference in the lives of the students, and they had made a difference in ours too. It was an innovative and interactive experience, and we can’t wait for the next one.
