Sixty buses brought 3,234 schoolchildren from schools and institutions across Chennai to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur as part of Magnum Carnival, organised by Rotary District 3234 and RC Madras Magnum (RCMM).
The club has been organising this programme annually for the past seven years, taking children from less privileged families each year to various recreational places in and around Chennai. Last year, over 1,000 children visited the zoo under the initiative. This year, DG D Suresh Jain urged the Rotarians to expand the project to include 3,234 children (matching the district’s number). “Such picnics give the children new experiences, an opportunity to bond with each other, and learn something new. It is our responsibility as Rotarians to enrich the minds of children, a first step to groom them as better citizens,” he said.
The children, wearing green t-shirts carrying the message ‘Plant trees; Plant our future,’ were welcomed at the zoo by Rotarians, Anns and Rotaractors. “Seeing so many children arrive at the zoo, excited and ready for the day, was wonderful. We wanted them to have a day filled with fun, new experiences and happy memories,” said Siddharth Bhaiya, president of RCMM.
The event was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan. After breakfast, the children spent the morning exploring the wildlife park as part of an educational and recreational outing.
Over 70 Rotarians from RCMM and their family members, along with 60 Rotaractors and 50 district officials and club leaders, volunteered for the programme. The group also included 150 children with special needs, who were accompanied by a family member or caregiver. Akshay Seth was the event convenor.
Lunch was hosted for the young guests at the B S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, located close to the zoo; the students also watched a magic show at the campus amphitheatre. The college provided 25 buses for transport and 40 Rotaractors from the college volunteered to guide the children.
The total outlay for the event was ₹40 lakh. Fifty Rotary clubs, individuals and Annettes contributed between ₹1,000 and ₹2 lakh, while the district contributed ₹30 lakh. The excess funds will be used to construct toilets in government schools, said club president Bhaiya.