When the Waters Rose, Rotaractors Stepped Forward
By Vatsal Khimasiya
In July 2026, relentless monsoon rains swept across Gujarat, a state in western India. Rivers overflowed their banks, roads disappeared beneath floodwaters, homes were submerged, and thousands of families were left without food, drinking water, electricity, and other essentials.
The need was immediate. So was the response.
Across District 3060, which serves communities in Gujarat and neighboring parts of western India, Rotaractorsbegan organizing relief. Nine clubs — Mahemdabad, Bharuch, Harijyot, Vapi Riverside, Surat East, Umbergaon, Navsari Young Turks, Valsad, and Vapi —came together through Project Sahay, coordinating their efforts with Rotary clubs, charitable organizations, donors, and local volunteers.
Some prepared fresh meals. Others assembled ration kits, arranged drinking water, sorted supplies, coordinated transportation, or travelled to communities cut off by flooding.
TheworkreachedcommunitiesacrossBharuch, Mahemdabad, Navsari, Valsad, Vapi, Umbergaon, Pipariyain Silvassa, and nearbyvillages.
Families received cooked meals, food supplies, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, utensils, hygiene essentials, medical supplies, clothing, and other necessities.
By the end of the response, more than 15,000 people had been reached. Rotaract Members contributed more than 1,500 volunteer hours, while over ₹16 lakh (approximately US$19,000) in relief was delivered.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Some families arrived carrying buckets and plastic containers to collect a warm meal. Elderly residents thanked Rotaractors with tears in their eyes. Children smiled despite having lost much of what was familiar to them.
For the Rotaractors, these moments put the work into perspective.
A relief kit meets an immediate need. A meal provides nourishment. A blanket provides warmth. But in the aftermath of a disaster, receiving help also carries another message: you have not been forgotten.
Bhavya S Shah, District Rotaract Representative for District 3060, said:
“Project Sahay was never about the number of meals we served or the relief kits we distributed.
It was about ensuring that every family affected by the floods knew they were not alone. Every helping hand carried a message of hope and compassion.”
The response also showed the value of local collaboration. Rotaractorsbrought volunteers and energy; Rotary members contributed experience and connections; community organizations offered local knowledge; and donors helped turn resources into relief.
For many of the young Rotaractors, the floods became a lesson in leadership.
There was no time for perfect plans. Roads became inaccessible, needs changed quickly, and supplies had to keep moving. Rotaract Members organized, adapted, solved problems, and continued.
Leadership, in those circumstances, was not about a title. It was about seeing what needed to be done and doing it.
When the waters rose, these young people did not wait for someone else to respond.
They stepped forward.
And for families facing the uncertainty left behind by the floods, that may have been the most important message of all: someone was there.
Rotary Izmir Dokuz Eylül
District 2440, Turkey - Past District Governor
Past Rotary Public Image Coordinator
Turkish Rotary Magazine board member
Active member of the WASH and SRoF fellowships
TRF CADRE
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