‘Project Smiling Faces’ educating the needy

Nagpur: To take education to the underprivileged, the Rotary Club of Nagpur Vision (RCNV) started ‘Project Smiling Faces’ in 2005.

Lakhs of children have been awarded scholarships and every year a new batch is added to this list.

At Methodist High School, Mecosabagh, on Tuesday, RCNV and the School Headmasters’ Charitable Association (SHMCA) together distributed scholarship cheques to 17 bright students who excelled in academics but had hit a roadblock due to financial constraints.

RCNV and SHMCA made sure that no student compromised his or her dream to achieve a bigger and better life. Since June 2021, RCNV and SHMCA have given scholarships to 60 students.

“Education and employment are two important factors for the progress and development of the world. In India, too, there are plenty of students who are backward in education due to lack of funds. This is why RCNV reaches out to them and supports their education wholeheartedly. We encourage female kids to study and achieve their goals. Apart from supporting students financially, we also conduct skill development programmes for the differently-abled and economically backward students to help them fulfil their aspirations,” said RCNV president Vikram Naidu.

In his address, SHMCA president Zafar Ahmed Khan said, “This scholarship is for those who are genuinely motivated to study further. It gives us immense joy to see students provided with funds doing well in education. Even a small amount can save an academic year of a child who wants to study.”

RCNV’s past-president Rajiv Behal said, “My only aim is to see children whom we are helping come back after 10 years and provide scholarships to other financially weak children and to continue the cycle of kindness. It gives me utter happiness to see children whom we are providing scholarships do so well in life.”

Children were seen with tears with joy and ambition. Some said they aim to become a doctor, while some are seeing themselves as future IAS officers. All the members of RCNV and SHMCA congratulated the award winners and motivated them for their future. The ceremony was hosted by Dilip Bose, secretary of SHMCA.