By Rajeev Bhalla, Rotary Club of Ranipur, Uttar Pradesh, India
I have an amazing story to tell of hope, healing, and the power of coming together to make a difference. Many of us have stories like this in Rotary. Here’s mine.
I joined the Rotary Club of Ranipur in 1987 with a simple idea in mind: to do something meaningful for our community of Haridwar. Little did I know that my simple idea would blossom into something truly life-changing.
In our community, several individuals have scars from accidents they survived, such as burns or acid injuries. Many of them are not just scarred physically but also carry deep emotional wounds. I thought, “What if we could do something to help them?”
Teaming up with a group of skilled German medical experts, my club set out to create a clinic that would also be a haven: a place where people could get medical help and find a new sense of hope.
We called our initiative “Changing Faces to Change Lives.” Each year, more than 150 survivors find solace through our project. They aren’t just patients. They are fighters, battling stigma as well as physical pain.
We think out every step carefully. From the moment someone registers, we want them to feel cared for and respected. The screening process ensures that everyone gets the right attention, personalized just for them.
The project’s success is due to teamwork. Alongside Sagar Manchanda (our immediate past president), Project Chair Sanjeev Mehta, and Dr. Vinay, our amazing Rotarians work tirelessly. The surgeries we arrange fix physical scars, and we offer emotional support and counseling to the patients and their families. We provide that support through every step of recovery.
Our project is not a one-time effort. It’s a continued commitment – a promise we have made to change lives. Year after year, we will remain committed to restoring people’s hope and dignity.
https://blog.rotary.org/2024/07/05/changing-lives-for-burn-patients/