Empowering Persons with Disabilities Chance, Not Charity

Meeting Details

Meeting Date 10 Aug 2024
Meeting Time 18:30:00
Location Poona Club
Meeting Type Regular
Meeting Topic Empowering Persons with Disabilities Chance, Not Charity
Meeting Agenda
Chief Guest Dr. Sonam Kapse
Club Members Present 50
Minutes of Meeting Our weekly meeting at the Poona Club began on a thoughtful note as Vice President Rtn. Yogesh Shah took the helm in the absence of President Brigadier PKM Raja. He led us in expressing heartfelt condolences to R'Ann Kalpana Merchant and Rtn. PP Suhas Merchant for the loss of Kalpana's mother, Smt. Kamalabai Bafana, who passed away peacefully on August 1st. Shifting the focus to service, Rtn. Yogesh updated us on the recent Eye Check-up Camps. Rtn. Oni and R’Ann Nafisa Kakajiwala were hands-on at the camp, which ran from August 5th to 7th at Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial High School in Loni kalbhor. It was a commendable effort organized by the Rotary Club of Pune Central in collaboration with the Community Eye Care Foundation. The numbers were impressive—1,498 students received eye examinations, with 157 identified as needing glasses and 84 referred for further evaluation. Even the staff got involved, with 27 members also getting their eyes checked, and 7 students received reading glasses on the spot. We then took a moment to celebrate some happy occasions. Birthday greetings were extended to R’Ann Dr. Pushpa Yadav, Rtn. Vipen Malhotra, Rtn. PP Madhu Rathi, and R’Ann Kokila Sheth. We also wished Rtn. Parvin and R’Ann Neena Malhotra a very happy wedding anniversary. The highlight of the evening was the introduction of our guest speaker, Dr. Sonam Kapse, by Rtn. PP Suhas Merchant. Dr. Kapse brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to the topic, “Persons with Disability (PwD) – Chance not Charity.” She shared her journey from being a cancer genetics super-specialty surgeon to becoming a restaurateur with a purpose. Her restaurant, Terrasinne, is staffed predominantly by specially-abled youth, and her story of training and empowering these individuals was truly inspiring. Dr. Kapse spoke about the challenges she faced in teaching her team about global cuisine, using sign language as a bridge. She emphasized the importance of inclusivity and how the restaurant’s unique menu, designed with sign language symbols, encourages patrons to engage with the staff in a meaningful way. Her dedication to providing equal opportunities for the specially-abled was evident, and it’s clear that her work is making a significant impact. She also shared insights about her other venture, India Millets Co., which focuses on producing nutrient-rich, ready-to-eat products sourced from ancestral grains grown by over 200 farmers. Her commitment to chemical-free farming and restoring the simple, yet effective, ways of dining was both refreshing and forward-thinking. The evening concluded with an IceBreaker Fellowship sponsored by Rtn. PE Lekha Nair, adding a warm and friendly close to a meeting filled with reflection, service, and inspiration. Our next meeting is on August 17, 2024, where we’ll delve into ‘Nutrition & Fitness’ with Zareen Siddique, a social media influencer with a massive following. It’s sure to be another engaging and informative session. As always, our club continues to embody the spirit of Rotary through service, learning, and fellowship.