In a heartwarming pre-Christmas gesture, the restaurant community in Noida stepped up to bring festive joy to children with hearing and speech disabilities. The initiative, spearheaded by the local chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), saw significant participation from eateries across the city and the National Capital Region.
Santa's Cause: Festive Spirit in Action
On Tuesday, a collective effort dubbed 'Santa's Cause' reached its culmination. The campaign encouraged restaurateurs to donate 10% of every food bill throughout December. The pooled contributions were then used to purchase essential supplies for young learners.
At the campus of the Noida Deaf Society, a brief Christmas celebration was held where school bags and stationery were distributed to 150 students. The children, aged between four and 17, were the delighted recipients of this charitable drive involving at least 50 restaurants.
Beyond Donations: A Vision for Inclusive Futures
Varun Khera, Head of the NRAI Noida Chapter, emphasized that the goal was to ensure these children are not left out of the festive experience. "Children look forward to Christmas because of the gifts associated with it. Through Santa's Cause, we wanted to share that happiness with these marginalised students," he stated.
Khera revealed that the association's vision extends beyond a one-time donation. The NRAI is actively in talks with the school to provide employment opportunities for deaf students within the hospitality sector. "There are several roles where they can perform well with the right support. Our effort is to create inclusive employment opportunities and help integrate them into the workforce," he explained.
Building Bridges and Confidence
The founder of the Noida Deaf Society, Ruma Rupa, shared that the students responded with visible excitement. "The children were thrilled. Many of them had never interacted so closely with people from the restaurant industry," she said. The visiting restaurateurs took a tour of the facility, spent quality time with the students, and interacted with them using sign language and with the assistance of teachers.
Such visits, according to staff members, are invaluable as they help build confidence among the students and expose them to potential career paths. The Noida Deaf Society focuses on educating and upskilling deaf children and youth, aiming to bring them into mainstream education and employment through formal schooling, vocational training, and life-skills development.
This collaborative effort between Noida's vibrant restaurant industry and a dedicated educational society highlights a powerful model of community engagement, where festive giving is seamlessly connected to long-term goals of empowerment and inclusion.
