‘heARTfully yours: A fundraising drive culminated’

In 2023, the members of the Visual Arts Committee had organised a fundraiser sale of artwork and hand crafted goods, to contribute to a worthy cause! They toiled for months making crochet coasters, headbands, pouches and earrings; they painted terracotta pots, MDF coasters, mini canvases, tote bags and what have you! Their hard work was worth it, as the response to the drive was overwhelming, with parents and teachers lapping up the products and supporting the cause generously.

While a number of avenues were explored for a worthwhile cause to use it for, this fund was recently in dec 2024, channelised to donate 12 wheelchairs to the well-known NGO, The Earth Saviours Foundation. Around 1200 senior citizens, many of whom are physically or mentally challenged, or abandoned by their family, are taken care of and treated with dignity here, completely free of charge. The students of Class XII who had been the main initiators and workforce behind the mission, visited the Bandhwari facility of the NGO, to hand over the wheelchairs and meet and interact with the residents.

The experience marked a milestone in the lives of the students, impacting them deeply. The heart-breaking, yet courageous stories of the elderly residents left the youngsters with bittersweet emotions, moving them beyond words. It was heartening to see the students slowly open up and start talking to the inmates, some of whom reminded them of their own grandparents. They responded to them with warmth and empathy, touched to see their happiness at just having someone to listen to them. The entire experience is probably going to stay with them lifelong.