A fun way to raise funds for a happy school

As the country observed Teacher’s Day, it was time to celebrate a fundraiser held recently in Bengaluru. The money collected through the first-of-its-kind initiative in Whitefield will help renovation of Government Lower Primary School at Chikkanakundi in Anekal Taluk.

On August 24, Forum Neighbourhood Mall hosted InnQuizzitive 2019, a quiz for a cause organized by Inner Wheel Club of Bangalore IT Corridor (IWCBITC). As enthusiastic quizzers vied for the honours in the atrium on the ground floor, scores of visitors watched the spectacle from the sidelines.

On a Saturday filled with fun and brimming with questions, Mr Hrishikesh Varma of Nexus Consulting kept the contestants hooked. “The quizmaster took everyone for a ride from Danish Greenland to Tokyo Olympics, from ‘GOAT’ Federer to Higgs particle,” observed a spectator, while adding that the volley of questions, many of them cryptic, managed to exert the grey cells of even the geeks.

The beneficiary school – Government Lower Primary School at Chikkanakundi in Anekal Taluk. Pic: Shubha Nagarajan

The response was overwhelming: around 150 participants across 37 teams in the ‘adult’ category and 14 in the ‘youth’ category. Each youngster paid Rs 300 while each adult contributed Rs 400.

Following a written round, eight teams in each category qualified for the finals. While the winners among the youth were Adi Amartya Shankar, Viraj Shankar and Adhithya Sudarsan, the grown-ups who topped the charts included Syed Sajid Mustafa, Rohit and Jaydeep. With 12 teams, DNR Atmosphere walked away with the trophy for maximum participation from a community.

Enthusiastic participation in the quiz by everyone. Pic: IWCBITC

As depicted in a video screened on the occasion, the building housing the 27-year-old school with 50 students is in a dilapidated condition. The children, who were accompanied by their parents to the venue, were delighted to see the inside of a big mall. The event rekindled their hope that they would finally get a ‘Happy School’ with basic facilities.

“We deliberately identified a school in a remote village around our urban neighbourhood,” said Ms Shubha Nagarajan, President, IWCBITC. “We found this school about 12 km from the IT hub in a decrepit state with no running water or sanitation, and no playground. We decided to renovate it and make it a ‘happy school’ for those children. But the cost of refurbishing the entire school worried us. That’s when we decided on a fundraiser,” she explained.

“The idea of conducting a community quiz took root in my head,” said Ms Sarala Menon, secretary, IWCBITC. “I thought it was a good idea to get communities bond with each other at two levels: camaraderie and competition. The cause being charity, adults and children were equally moved and motivated to contribute towards the rejuvenation of a school in dire straits,” she added.

Children from the beneficiary school watching the quiz. Pic: IWCBITC

The contest managed to raise a significant amount, with additional contribution pouring in from people across the city. “We are in a comfortable position to start the renovation work. We have also spoken to a builder whose company is willing to help us with the restoration work,” responded an organizer when asked about the next steps.

While applauding the effort, Whitefield Rising reiterated its support to similar events in the future. “It was a pleasure to be a community partner for this noble initiative,” the citizens’ group mentioned in a note. “Our goal is to help transform our area with citizens actively participating in the change we want to see around us and leave our children with a better place overall.” 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Mathru school transforms lives of special needs children in Bengaluru 

Mukhta Gubbi, founder of Mathru Educational Trust, focuses on the holistic development of students while easing parents' burden.

Mathru Educational Trust for the Blind and Other Disabled, established on January 15, 2001 by Muktha Gubbi, emerged at a time when her life was marked by various challenges that almost led her to despair. She met with a freak accident, in which she lost half of one foot and a close relationship ended, thereafter.  Witnessing a young mother struggling to take care of her blind toddler inspired Muktha to start the Mathru Residential School for the Blind in her time of adversity. Since its inception, the school has empowered countless visually impaired students, who have meritoriously passed out of Mathru school. Mathru now…

Similar Story

One step towards inclusivity: Free higher education for transgender students in Maharashtra

Transgender students welcome the policy but emphasise the need for colleges to prepare and sensitise before it is rolled out.

Marcus is a trans man pursuing a master’s degree in sports management from IISM, Mumbai. As a member of the transgender community, Marcus welcomes the state government's decision to provide free higher education to transgender students in public universities in Maharashtra and in affiliated colleges. "This will be effective because a lot of trans people also come from the lower economic strata. Unfortunately, they have to leave their households early on because their parents don’t approve of their identity. They have to either manage their studies or drop out,” says Marcus. Policy's inclusivity objective On December 5th, at a meeting…