Nearly 45 children from the aanganwadi run by Deepak Foundation in the Nandesari industrial area were visited by 5 volunteers from Citi Bank group of Vadodara on 7^th November, 09. This visit was a part of Citi’s commemoration of Global Community Day during which the core idea is to spend a whole day interacting with the community. This was the second time that the Citi group had joined hands with the Foundation for such an event. Last year Citi volunteers had shared their expertise and knowledge about banking, lending and finance with 20 women of Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the Foundation.

Among others present for the celebration were Ms. Chandrakala Wadhawan Consultant, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Pre-School teachers and Aanganwadi Workers (AWWs). The volunteers were briefed about the innovative concept of education being given to children at aanganwadis. The volunteers were happy to know about this unique initiative as they appreciated the paintings and drawings made by the children. To assert the importance of environment, ‘global warming’ was taken up as the theme for the function and tree plantation activity was carried out in the vicinity of the aanganwadi by both the volunteers and children. It was an informal session wherein children sung songs on environment and the volunteers gestured by distributing chocolates among children. They also were enlightened about various government schemes and their benefits to different sections of the society. The volunteers expressed their desire to know more about how aanganwadis function and in the end it proved to be an enriching and fruitful interaction for them.