Bhubaneswar, April 18: Thirteen-year-old Surabhi often comes running out of the RAWA Academy, an orphanage at Mendhasala on the city outskirts, to watch airplanes flying overhead.
Her joy knew no bounds today when the members of the Bhubaneswar Round Table 53 took 40 inmates of the academy for a journey to the sky as part of their unique initiative.
Aptly titled "Fantasy flight" the initiative aims to provide the underprivileged children with an experience to cherish.
The kids flew to Visakhapatnam where a series of fun events were lined up for them. "Every time I saw an aeroplane overhead, I would run about and clap my hands. But, it was great experience to see what an airport looks like. I am extremely happy as I am going to fly for the first time. I had always wondered how pilots and airhostesses looked like. My dream is about to come true," said Surabhi.
Eleven-year-old Gyana, who was in the team, said he had only seen aeroplanes in books. "I want to take the window seat, so that I can see the view outside," said he.
"The kids staying at our home are mostly orphans, children in distress and those belonging to single parent. This gesture by Bhubaneswar Round Table 53 will help the kids exposing them to the outside world," an acadamy member said.
At Visakhapatnam, the Vizag Round Table 77 will be taking the kids for a tour of the local amusement park, kids zone and 3D movie show.
They will fly back to Bhubaneswar tomorrow. This apart, they will be taken for shopping at malls and provided meals at McDonald's.
"Our endeavour is to give these underprivileged children the experience of their lives - which will not only provide them happiness and joy, but also kindle the desire to work hard and achieve their dreams," said an organiser.
This will act as a catalyst of hope for their future, to ingrain the idea that impossible is nothing. We are trying to give wings to their dreams," said he.
Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Round Table had taken children to Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, New Delhi and Calcutta with support from the tables of the touring cities.
The group has built 1,500 schools during the past 10 years benefiting lakhs of children across India under its long term project Freedom through Education.
