An eye for compassion

 

 

Seenan's honorable mention entry in The Rotarian's 2009 photo contest. Photo by Peter Seenan

Peter Seenan says a highlight of his experience as a 2007-08 Ambassadorial Scholar in Delhi, India, was "giving presentations to numerous Rotary clubs and being invited to be a part of their incredible work, undertaken across the vast city of 17 million inhabitants."

A photograph taken by Seenan of a club service project earned the native of St. Andrews, Scotland, honorable mention in The Rotarian' s 2009 photo contest, appearing in the June issue .

The project provided packages of supplies donated by Rotarians to children at a school founded and supported by local Rotary clubs. Each child received a package that contained a sweater, packet of biscuits, and a candle.

"The little boy in this photo initially couldn't comprehend that the whole package might be for him, so he reached past [the sweater] and grabbed the biscuit," says Seenan. "He had to be cajoled into accepting the package by [a Delhi club member] and a teacher.

"With [the Rotarian's] caring, guiding hand, he eventually understood and walked away," Seenan says, adding that the boy beamed with pride at his new belongings.

"Another memorable element of this wonderful visit was the routines performed by the children," he says. "Some children danced, some recited, some sang, but the mixture of concentration and enjoyment etched on their faces was fantastic."

The Delhi club also helped build a workshop to provide young people with the skills for earning a basic income. The club pays the teachers a salary to train the youths in how to produce goods for sale. Through the club’s contacts in the community, the goods are sold for a small profit.

"Projects such as these give a glimpse of why Rotary is so highly regarded in India," Seenan says.

Written for Reconnections