RCP Metro's Interact Project
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The Rotary Club of Pune Metro (RCPM) has consistently been committed to the holistic development of school children through its three Interact Clubs. Building on this strong foundation, and in alignment with Rotary International’s focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), RCPM undertook a meaningful new initiative last year.
Recognizing that DEI extends far beyond dimensions such as LGBTQ, gender, race, religion, or ethnicity, we sought to bridge a deeper societal divide—between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” With this vision, last year, RCPM established a new Interact Club at the Pune Blind School (PBS) for Boys in Koregaon Park. This initiative marked a significant learning experience for our members and opened new pathways for inclusive engagement.
As an initial step, last year, we facilitated interactions between students from PBS and our MKNS Interact Club, whose members largely come from more privileged backgrounds. Through games, shared activities, and informal interactions, these engagements created a platform for mutual learning and respect. Despite the evident diversity, the outcome was truly encouraging—students connected meaningfully, fostering a sense of equity and inclusion. The PBS students, in particular, felt a strong sense of belonging among their peers, which lies at the heart of DEI.
Encouraged by this success, and recognizing India’s passion for cricket, RCPM introduced specially designed cricket kits for visually impaired students. After considerable effort, we sourced high-quality equipment featuring audible bells from North India, enabling effective participation. The impact has been remarkable—students have actively embraced the sport, and as shared by the school principal, Mr. Sargam, the boys recently participated in district-level tournaments and even secured victories in several matches.
Taking this journey further, RCPM organized an engaging and impactful music workshop on 18th March, led by Mayuri Atre. Music, being a sensory experience beyond sight, proved to be an ideal medium for inclusion. The workshop went beyond technical training—it emphasized perseverance, positivity, and the pursuit of excellence, all core principles aligned with DEI.
Mayuri conducted the session with a strong focus on experiential learning. She introduced students to key elements of Indian classical and light music, including swar placement, vocal techniques, pronunciation, and emotional expression. Concepts such as alankars, taans, meend, and murkis were explained through simple, practical demonstrations. She also shared insights on breathing techniques, vocal range development, and differences between Indian and Western musical styles. The session was highly interactive, with enthusiastic participation from students.
The workshop was further enriched by the accompaniment of the school’s music teachers and students on instruments such as tabla, harmonium, and cymbals. Approximately 40–50 students, along with teachers and school leadership, deeply appreciated the session.
The success of this workshop has further ignited minds of we Metropolitans with newer ideas and we are currently discussing the same with PBS. Please subscribe to Rotary Club of Pune Metro facebook/Instagram pages to learn more and contact us,
At RCPM, we remain committed to exploring innovative approaches to advance DEI in meaningful and scalable ways in society. We believe that such initiatives can be replicated across Rotary clubs globally. As a club, we are always ready to share our learnings and support fellow Rotarians in expanding their DEI efforts.
Rtn PP Vivek Kulkarni
PI Director
Rotary Club of Pune Metro
