In March 2020, SI Poona celebrated International Women’s Day at their monthly meeting. A young couple Mr. Kanad Joag and his partner Ms. Pauline Charriot, were invited, as our special guests for the occasion. The couple is involved in V.C.D.M. or Village Community Development Movement, in the village of Pabal, about 50 kms. from Pune. They are deeply committed to VCDM, which is a farmers’ movement, working for forty years for holistic rural development of this area. The centre is a support house for girls in the age group of five to sixteen years, coming from challenged backgrounds, and besides giving them basic necessities, they are also sent to school. The girls are also taught several other activities like farming, household chores, and various crafts made from natural fibres and materials, which are also sold and well appreciated. SI Poona members expressed their interest in the Educational adoption of a few girls, and see them complete their school as well as college education under their existing education sponsorship project ‘ Let me Bloom’.
The guests were then felicitated by president Kulsum 
with small tokens on behalf of the club. Pauline was given
an International Women’s Day certificate with the SI Poona
logo. A cheque of Rs. 10,000/- was handed over to Kanad
on behalf of SI Poona.