A life of grit, valour

After her family threw out Zainab Patel onto the streets, “I begged and even had to sell my body to make ends meet.” That was the toughest phase of this transgender activist’s life in Mumbai, she said, addressing a plenary session at the Kochi Institute. Despite adversity, Zainab completed a Management course at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and now holds an MBA in Human Resources, and has acquired over a decade’s experience working in a UN body. Here, “interactions with people, and seeing all the good, bad and ugly motivated me to start the NGO, ­Saksham Trust,” she said.

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Rotaractors bag CSR Grant

RID 3170 DRR Nikhil Chindak has been instrumental in bagging a CSR grant of Rs.25 lakh from Ayu Foundation, the CSR wing of Vijaykant Food and Dairy in Belgaum. “The funds will be used to provide cervical cancer vaccines to 1,000 young girls in schools,” says Chindak, a member of RAC ­Belgaum South. “We had decided on the project last year before beginning my term as DRR and the costs worked out to Rs.20-25 lakh for 1,000 vaccines,” he adds. Serum Institute will provide the vaccines for the project.

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New AKS members honoured

On the eve of the Zone Institute, nine Rotarians were inducted into the prestigious Arch Klumph Society. Thanking the inductees for their generosity, RI President Stephanie Urchick said, “Individuals like you, with your vision and generosity, keep the Foundation strong. You enable the incredible work—the magic—that Rotary creates across the globe.”

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Rotary bets on zero-based budgeting

Presenting Rotary’s five-year financial forecast at the Kochi Institute, RI treasurer and director Rhonda Beth Stubbs informs that revenues are higher than expenses until fiscal 2026 (2025–26), and from fiscal 2027 “our expenses will become higher than our revenues” starting with a $4 million deficit budget. “We are projecting a balanced budget in fiscals 2025, ’26, and deficits from FY 2027 through fiscal 2029.”

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Rotary’s legacy of service & impact

We Rotarians are excellent tenants of this planet as we truly live up to the motto Service above Self. Together, let us continue to be the architects of hope, champions of compassion and pioneers of change. Through thoughtful planning and steadfast commitment, we will not only serve to change lives but create a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come,” said PRIP Shekhar Mehta, addressing the Kochi Rotary Institute.

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