[Arsenic]

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector

Will make sure to attend this one after I had to miss out on the last one due to illness

[pcpranav]

Originally Posted by GTO

We've stepped into 2023 quite comfortably. Let's add some joy to the lives of underprivileged children at the start of this year.

this is just awesome, more power to all of you. I remember previously talking to you & Omkar about school related initiatives, and see its happening.

For the "school" theme, few most relevant stuff are :
- personal hygiene products
- sports gears, musical instruments
- career counseling for 9-10-11-12 grades
- stationery (if possible indulge in a 30 min group session of drawing activity)
- installations or repairs of toilets / drinking water facility
- can even part with your old gadgets (computer / typewriter / TV / video game / projector)

As for me, I maybe unable to join this drive (will try for last min entry). Just 3 weeks back I visited a nearby residential school with lots of supplies delivered.

"keep this flame on, many would get ignited to do their bit"

best wishes

[praveen789]

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia

[wolfsnare24]

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia
9. wolfsnare24 - Venue iMT

[Nair.V8]

Including the name of a good friend and fellow Bhpian who will be joining as well:

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia
9. wolfsnare24 - Venue iMT
10. AJRULES - GTI

[drtjm]

Please consider silicon menstrual cups as sanitary pads are an environmental hazard and concept and difficult to recycle.

[Omkar]

Just had a call with the headmaster of the school. She wanted to thank everyone for taking the initiative.

She also shared a list of books for the Std 10th kids that they're planning to get. If someone can get some books from the list, that'd be helpful.

[Mgdoodler]

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia
9. wolfsnare24 - Venue iMT
10. AJRULES - GTI
11. Mgdoodler -Altroz

[Stimpy]

I will be adding my name to the list

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia
9. wolfsnare24 - Venue iMT
10. AJRULES - GTI
11. Mgdoodler -Altroz
12. Stimpy - City

[zadoom]

Originally Posted by Omkar

She also shared a list of books for the Std 10th kids that they're planning to get. If someone can get some books from the list, that'd be helpful.

Was able to manage 5 sets of these books.

Adding my name as well to the list. Apologies for the late addition, got my car back from servicing just today evening and hence the last minute addition.

Confirmations:
1. GTO - Thar
2. Omkar - Swift
3. city2491, revvsperminute - Innova Crysta
4. Nair.V8 - Thar
5. Jigar - Ciaz
6. ACM - Hexa (+Sis & BIL)
7. Arsenic - Hector
8. praveen789 - Octavia
9. wolfsnare24 - Venue iMT
10. AJRULES - GTI
11. Mgdoodler -Altroz
12. Stimpy - City
13. Zadoom - Safari - shall join at the Shreem motors stop

[Omkar]

We're here!

[Omkar]

At the second meet point.

[wolfsnare24]

Reached school at 9:00AM sharp

[Omkar]

What a way to spend a Sunday! Thanks to everyone who made it and to those who showed support on the forum.

At the first meeting point after the Kanjurmarg flyover:


More people joined in at the second meet point:


Shreem Hyundai security guard was sure confused as to why so many cars were parked outside a Hyundai stockyard:



Parked up just before the school so that we could all enter together:


Entering the school through some very rough roads:



The founder of the school Mr. Sitaram Gaikwad welcomed everyone. He went on to give a brief history of the school and his struggles during the initial days:


This is where it all started. Teaching a bunch of tribal kids in a hut:


A look at the classroom. The school was built during the Covid lockdown and recently received these benches as a part of a donation:


There’s also a computer lab:


The school also has a solar power unit. This was a contribution from HDFC. There are frequent power cuts in the area and sometimes even the transformer of the village conks off. This is the only power source during those times:


Big batteries that store power:


A look at the residential part of the school:



The school authorities were expecting 5 cars and were elated to see 14 cars parked in front of the school:


The school authorities were sweet enough to arrange breakfast, tea, and water bottles for everyone:



There’s a water filtration system in place:


Kids wash their own clothes and dry them:


A look at how clean and organized the kitchen is. The machines can make idlis or rice for over 300 kids in under an hour:


The equipment was contributed by ONGC:


A look at the massive roti maker. This machine can make over 700-800 rotis in an hour:


Female students have sewing classes on the weekends:


A look at the room for female students. About 10-15 students stay in this room. Notice how everything is neat:


Daily essentials including toothbrush, paste, and brush for washing clothes kept neatly:


Comparatively the male room was a little messy:


Next up we got a tour of the science lab. Everyone was trying to remember all the concepts they studied back in school:



A few kids also had some projects to showcase:

[Omkar]

They explained the projects that they'd built:


A perfect showcase for BHPians, a self-driving electric vehicle:


Few more projects:



Towards the end, the school kids had gathered in the hall and authorities had arranged a welcome program:








Headmistress Alka Thorat madam and Mr. Samir Gaikwad said a few words about the school’s achievements and the areas where the kids need help:



GTO and a few BHPians shared some inspiring words with the kids:




Some pictures of the kids:






Kids were elated behind the wheel of the Jeep:



Some pictures of the gang with the kids:



Finally unloaded the stuff that we all had gotten for the kids:


Kids helped us get out all the stuff from our cars:


The room got filled with essentials for the kids. Stationery, books, sanitary pads, school bags, footwear, sports equipment, etc.


Shoutout to a friend of mine, Daksh who sent across 10 tournament-level chess sets: