Rotary Club of Poona Downtown-RYLA
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RYLA 2025 Report – A Celebration of True Inclusion* - Shikha Mitra
This year’s Rotary Club of Poona Downtown held an unique RYLA. (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) which was a Celebration of TRUE Inclusion a truly remarkable and heart-touching event, made possible by the visionary Rotarians who brought together three vibrant communities—Dr. (Mrs.) Erin N. Nagarvala School with Neurotypical students and Sunderji’s Global Academia with special needs children. Their collaborative idea of conducting RYLA together became a shining example of meaningful inclusion.
A special note of gratitude goes to Nagarvala School for graciously allowing us to use their beautiful campus. Their warm hospitality played a key role in creating a safe, welcoming space where every student could participate freely and confidently.
The day began with an energizing warm-up session that instantly brought smiles and helped children open up. Then came a unique group-formation activity. Sunderji’s students proudly held placards of different Indian states, while Nagarvala students selected chits with state specialties written on them and joined their matching groups. This fun process effortlessly blended the children and set the tone for teamwork and friendship.
Once grouped, the students rotated through various activity stations:
Drum Circle: A lively session where children created music and rhythms together, celebrating unity and joy. This session was conducted by an enthusiastic girl with cerebral palsy Ms. Anandita Kumar.
Physical Obstacle Course: A space filled with determination, courage, and heart-touching moments—especially when children quickly helped classmates who stumbled or fell. It beautifully showcased empathy in action.
Spherical Art Corner: A calming, creative zone where children made art with colours swirling in harmony.
Tele-matches: Fun, one-minute team-building games that encouraged coordination, teamwork, and lots of laughter.
For over two and a half hours, children participated with enthusiasm, rotating smoothly between stations. The bonding was natural and heartwarming—neurotypical and special needs children supported, encouraged, and celebrated one another.
During lunch, the joy continued. Children sat together, shared food, stories, and lots of giggles. The most beautiful part was watching them exchange phone numbers, excitedly promising to stay in touch. New friendships flourished, proving that inclusion is not just an activity—it’s a feeling, a connection, and a lifelong impact.
The event concluded with a cheerful circle time, where everyone came together for songs, dance, and fun conversations. It felt like one big family celebrating togetherness.
Overall, RYLA became a powerful demonstration of inclusive leadership in action. It showed that when children are placed in the right environment, they naturally embrace empathy, friendship, and unity. The day was not just an event—it was an experience of warmth, learning, and true connection.
A heartfelt thank you to the Rotarians, to Nagarvala School and Sunderji's staff for making this inclusive celebration truly unforgettable.
