Healing hearts across India

PICTURED: Ten children in regional India have received essential heart surgery thanks to the Rotary Club of Wyndham and a Rotary Foundation grant.

Through global collaboration and The Rotary Foundation’s support, the Rotary Club of Wyndham has helped give 10 children in India a healthier future.

When members of the Rotary Club of Wyndham, Vic, learned that children in parts of India were going without lifesaving heart surgery simply because their families could not afford it, they knew they had to act.

In several regions, children as young as seven months to eight years old face life-threatening cardiac conditions that are entirely treatable, yet tragically out of reach for those living in poverty.

Determined to make a tangible difference, Rotarian Rakesh Raizada travelled to India to explore the possibility of a collaborative solution. His visit led him to the Rotary Club of Southend Delhi, where discussions quickly revealed a shared desire to help. The partnership that followed became the cornerstone of the Wyndham Rotary Heart Project.

A global partnership

With support from Southend Delhi and comprehensive coordination through India’s Koshika Foundation, Wyndham Rotary successfully secured a Rotary Foundation grant. These combined efforts provided funding for 10 children to receive essential heart surgery – operations that either saved their lives or dramatically improved their quality of life.

The children came from across India, from states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. For many, this intervention was the first real chance to reclaim a healthy future.

The Koshika Foundation worked closely with partner hospitals to organise each surgery, supplying detailed documentation to verify that procedures had been completed. Their involvement ensured that every dollar of Rotary support translated directly into medical care for those who needed it most.

Rotarians from both Wyndham and Southend Delhi played a hands-on role in the selection process. Four members of the Southend club helped screen applications, which arrived through advertisements, community referrals and word-of-mouth. Each potential case underwent a thorough assessment based on the following criteria:

• Family background: number of family members, employment of parents, annual income and living conditions
• Patient identification: photographs of the child and family in front of their home, plus birth certificate confirmation
• Medical documentation: clinical diagnosis, supporting tests and professional medical recommendations
• Estimated cost: itemised projection of the medical procedure and associated care

This careful screening not only ensured transparency but also guaranteed that assistance reached families in genuine need.

The power of Rotary in action

The Wyndham Rotary Heart Project stands as a powerful example of what Rotary can achieve when clubs and partners work together across borders. It highlights the transformative role of The Rotary Foundation in amplifying local humanitarian efforts into global impact.

Most importantly, it affirms a core Rotary principle: Together, we truly Do Good in the World.