The city of Agra witnessed the Round Table International World Meet where members of the association from across the globe attended the annual event virtually through video conferencing. The gala event is organized every year in September to mark the change of Headboard for RTI.
D K Singh, who hails from the city of Agra assumed the role of International President for the year 2020-21 making him the third person ever from India in the entire 93 years history of RTI, to take this coveted post. This was followed by the investiture of other headboard members including Graham Cornelissen from South Africa taking over as International Vice President, Giles Walers from Luxembourg being appointed International Secretary, Robert Kernis from Great Britain took over as International Treasurer, and Sebestian Walter from Germany became Immediate Past President. Apart from these 5 key positions, 12 more delegates were appointed as part of the International Board. This team of 17 key members will govern the functioning of Round Table International for the next one year.
Round Table is a young man organisation spread in more than 65 countries with almost 30,000 members who organise approximately 2275 clubs under the flagship of RTI. The first-ever Round Table was formed in Norwich, England in 1927 by Louis Marchesi. The members of this club are all aged b/w 18-40 years who believe in bringing about change and excellence in themselves and the community.
Round Table India, the association, was formed in 1962. Since then it has grown to become a 4600 member strong association, individuals who can rise above personal concerns to seek and serve the larger needs of the community.
Round Table India’s flagship program, Freedom Through Education (FTE), involves building classrooms, toilets and providing other infrastructure like drinking water facility, library, science labs, sanitary pad dispensers etc. at schools across the country that cater to children from the less privileged sections of the society. In last 22 years, RTI has built over 7141 classrooms in over 3041 projects, impacting the lives of more than 7.86 million underprivileged children.
During the time of National Lockdown due to COVID crisis, Round Table India launched the initiative of ” Round Table India Kitchen (RTI Kitchen)” under which, over 55 lac meals were distributed all over India in a span of 45 days.