Schools into Smiles a Rotary Years 2004 - 05 & 2006 - 07 project
The Centennial Crowning Glory of District 3230 Projects
From the shades of trees to four walls and a roof; from thatched roof to cement and bricks; from floors to desks and benches; from roads and streets to playgrounds; from shrubs and bushes to well tiled toilets; from darkness to well lit rooms; from sweat and suffocation to better ventilation with fans; from blackboards to audio visual presentations, this is the slow and steady transformation that 100 primary and Panchayat schools in and around Chennai are undergoing with the blessings of RI District 3230's Mammoth Centennial Project "SCHOOLS INTO SMILES".
This project has the sanction of Government of Tamil Nadu granting permission for Rotary to adopt renovate and maintain 100 schools and more. This project will serve as a model for other Rotary Districts to create an entirely revamped educational system in India.
The haunting need of the hour is 100% Literacy
The daunting task on the shoulder of every Rotarian is to tirelessly work for this. In this uphill noble journey, the first step to be taken will be to provide a desirable environment to the children at school. In spite of the various provisions like books, study materials, sports articles, uniforms and scholarships, the most important tool that can have a lasting impression and bring about a revolutionary change in Literacy level is providing better environment at schools. Today most of the Primary and Panchayat schools are in dilapidated conditions with all the basic facilities missing or in the worst of conditions. Bringing a child to school and then making the child complete the entire course is the major objective of this project. This can be achieved by renovating and subsequently maintaining a close bondage with the schools to ensure consistent development thereafter. Who knows one day this may be the seed for a Global "Schools into Smiles".
This aims at inspiring young minds to make schools appealing to the lesser privileged and to avoid drop outs from school. This TOUCH of Rotary in a single school results in touching hundreds of young hearts there. Millions of dreams that may otherwise have vanished in the budding stage, will all bloom and dedicate the success stories to none other than Rotary. "Schools into Smiles" will go down in History of Rotary of having played the pivotal role in the emergence of Scientists from the Streets; Surgeons from the slums; Doctors from the Downtrodden; Pandits from the Pavement Dwellers; Engineers and Lawyers from the Low income groups, etc.
Every child should be motivated on two lines; first to ATTEND SCHOOL and next to ATTAIN EDUCATION. "Schools into Smiles" will be the strongest dosage of motivation for any child to ATTEND school and thus prove the best tool to infuse the importance of ATTAINING Education. On a long term basis, Rotary can be rest assured that millions of young minds would have been reformed into responsible citizens to lead meaningful lives and finally make India proud.
"Targeting Today; the stars of tomorrow."
District Governor thought that the best Centennial Gift to the society will be presenting the underprivileged children with renovated schools. This does not stop with just renovation but will be the first step taken by Rotary to stay with these schools at every step taken by them. Literacy being the prime need of the hour by the nation, this small step taken will surely inspire Rotarians globally to conceive in a similar angle and thus the day will dawn, which seems not too far when every school and every student will be blessed with smiles. The long term focus is on qualitative improvement of faculty, teaching methods and learning parameters. This project's outcome will be an increase in enrolment of students and thus an increase in literacy level.
"RI District 3230 Rotary Centenary Charitable Trust"
has been established for the efficient management of funds in this project. For the first time in the history of Rotary, a MoU has been signed by District 3230 with Round Table India. This trust along with the Round Table will provide financial assistance to the needy clubs. Price water house & Co. the internationally acclaimed firm of auditors will be managing the funds of this project. Many large hearted Rotarians of District 3230 have contributed to the Trust. Deeply impressed by the whole concept many corporate donors like TTK LIG, IOB, etc have volunteered contributions and Corporates have provided building materials at concessional rates. Many Philanthropic individuals and Corporates have expressed their desire to join this noble cause.
This step taken today may someday see the destruction of the world's worst social evil-illiteracy.
Today's resolution to bring "Schools into Smiles" will be Tomorrow's Revolution to bring "Society into Smiles". "SCHOOLS into SMILES- the first step for VICTORY BEYOND MILES."