The Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park is a community-based organization consisting of youth who believe in making a difference to society through impactful initiatives.
We, at RCMSP (The Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park) are firm believers of Winston Churchill’s ideologies, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Ever since we were founded in 2005, we have been striving towards thinking out of the box and reaching those who really need our help and support. Since our inception, we have carried out activities for orphans, under privileged students, HIV +ve children, senior citizens, mentally challenged, transgenders, transexuals, etc. and we also have dealt with issues like child sexual abuse, stigma attached with HIV & AIDS, stray dogs, misconceptions regarding blood donation etc. Additionally we have spent our time making policemen proficient in basic computer skills, organizing summer camps for village children, organizing MUNs for school students, various awareness drives, and so on.
Muktajeevan has been an initiative that every generation of members has experienced in the club and all of us have countless memories associated with this project, all extremely close to our hearts. “Muktajeevan” is an orphanage for HIV+ children between the ages 6-22 years, located in Shahapur, near Mumbai. These kids have extremely low levels of immunity and their condition prevents them from venturing out and exploring, unlike what other children of their age do. In an attempt to fulfill their wishes and make them feel extremely special, we Rotaractors at MSP conceived this project 9 years ago, wherein we spend an entire day with these children during the Christmas season and create wonderful experiences for them to cherish in their lifetime. Ever since its inception, Muktajeevan has increased in the scale at which it is done. We work around a new concept every year to give a different kind of exposure to these kids who are deprived of the privilege to do so.
Muktajeevan in the previous years has been conducted on several themes, each being different and unique every year. Last year we gave the children an experience of India’s cultural diversity by conducting activities related to six main cultures that prevail in our secular country in all respects, be it food, language, clothing, festivals or even art.
This year, the children at Muktajeevan expressed their desire to visit the vibrant and happening city of Mumbai for a one day tour. With the sole aim of creating another such blissful experience for the kids, we are set to put up an unforgettable show for these little ones. Starting with some fun interactive activities in Girgaum Chowpatty, while showing them the scenery of a beautiful beach on a wintery morning, we will move on to taking these kids on an open bus tour around South Mumbai. Through this tour we will acquaint these kids of the kind of ancient British architecture that still exists in our city while also giving them the once in a lifetime experience of taking a ride in an open-top bus.
Since we are looking at an overall experience of Mumbai, we aim at covering educational, cultural, and spiritual as well as the recreational aspects of the city. We will also be visiting the Isckon Temple near Babulnath to show these kids the beauty of spiritual places and provide them some time to relax mentally and physically after the bus ride. Post lunch, we will be taking the children for an exciting 3D show in the Nehru Science Centre since the concept of a 3D movie is something they are not very much aware of. We will be bringing this beautiful day to end by giving these kids the glimpse of how it feels to see a band performing live. These kids and our members have always bonded over music and dance and we believe that that is the best way to bid farewell to these little angels.
The children of Muktajeevan are indeed special. No, it’s not their condition that they are suffering from that makes them special, but it’s the resilience of spirit and the courage that they show despite going through such calamities in life that makes them real heroes. We indeed have a lot to learn from these little ones. Age is no indicator of maturity because these children have so many valuable life lessons to teach us adults and they do so with such simplicity that every year we are left inspired and awestruck by them. No matter what you achieve in life, it is this happiness and selfless love that you give and receive from special ones that is the biggest achievement one can proudly talk about and remember for eternity.