Global Grant Proposal Form for Project G-3374 Last updated by Malena Bennet <emailmalena@gmail.com> on 19-May-25 Project Title Little Miracles-Zara's Legacy Type of Project [X] Humanitarian [ ] VTT [ ] Scholarship Primary Host Partner Information
Primary International Partner Information
Grant Host Committee
Grant International Committee
Do any of these committee members have potential conflict of interest? If so, please briefly explain. no Tell us a little about your project. What are the main objectives of the project, and who will benefit from it? ROTARY CLUB OF COIMBATORE COTTON CITY (Club id:80414) Proposal for Project-Little Miracles-An Initiative to Save The New Borns Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City in Collaboration with Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Avarampalayam, Coimbatore. Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients are new-borns who require specialized medical care due to premature birth, low birth weight, congenital defects, infections, or following surgeries and other complications. NICU care is costly and also stressful for the families and caregivers of these vulnerable infants. Prematurity accounts for 10% of all births; and in India, about a third of the neo-natal deaths are caused by prematurity. Rotary club of Coimbatore Cotton City envisions to save these preterm babies in the NICU by associating with Sri Ramakrishna Hospital Coimbatore. The project would be supported by Dr. Siddharth Buddhavarapu, MBBS. MD. FNPM., HOD-Department of Neo-Natology, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore. The NICU at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital is a referral centre for sick newborns. It is a 22-bed tertiary level state-of-art facility and cares for hundreds of pre-term infants, some as young as 23-24 weeks of gestation and 600 grams at birth. However, caring for babies in NICU is expensive and is out-of-bounds for many low-income socio-economic families. NICU babies, especially extremely pre-term neonates require 2-3 months of stay and expenses run into several thousands of dollars. THERE IS NO INSURANCE SUPPORT OR PRE-NATAL PREMIUMS BY ANY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THESE YOUNG PARENTS. THEY LOOSE THEIR SAVINGS AND THEIR NEW BORN DUE TO LOW INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Many families decide to discontinue care for this precise reason and hence a significant number of babies die or receive suboptimal care in smaller NICUs If these babies are provided financial aid the hospital would be able to retain and support a greater number of patients and provide them with even better care than is being offered currently and save these little ones and build a healthier community. WE PROPOSE to - • DIRECTLY SPONSOR NEEDY PATIENTS AT LEVEL 2 OF NICU CARE, where the patients have crossed the critical phase but still are at a stage if withdrawn from the NICU care may not survive by direct fund transfer to the hospital for the purpose of bill payment. • Offer NICU parents peer support and referrals to community resources through volunteers, patient help groups, NGOs, etc. • A FOLLOW UP REVIEW PROGRAMME to review the development status of the selected babies shall be adhered to in consultation with the department of Neonatology Sri Ramakrishna hospital Coimbatore for period of 2 years. THE FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FOR THE PROJECT The total cost for the project would be US$30,000/- (United States Dollar Thirty Thousand Only). A sum of US$600/-(United States Dollar Six Hundred Only) shall be given to each child if the billing amount exceeds US$3,600/- (United States Dollar Three Thousand Six Hundred Only). WE REQUIRE $5000 USD DDF OR $7500 USD CASH CONTRIBUTION THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVES WE CAN SAVE ARE - 50 PRE-TERM BABIES. Thank you for your interest in this project and expecting a long-lasting relationship with the Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City (Rotary CLUB-ID 80414 DIST 3201). Which area of focus will this project support?
Which goals of this area of focus will your project support? - How will you measure your project impact?
Do you know who will collect information for monitoring and evaluation? -
Humanitarian Project Humanitarian Project Where will your project take place? City or town Coimbatore Province or state Tamil Nadu Country India When will your project take place? 2025-07-01 to 2026-08-01
Cooperating Organization (Optional)
Why did you choose to partner with this organization and what will its role be? DEPARTMENT OF NEONATOLOGY SRI RAMKRISHNA HOSPITAL NEW SIDDHAPUDUR Partners (Optional) List any other partner that will participate in this project. DEPARTMENT OF NEONATOLOGY SRI RAMKRISHNA HOSPITAL NEW SIDDHAPUDUR Volunteer Travelers (Optional) Provide name, email of traveler(s). - Describe this person's role in the project. - Rotarian Participants Describe the role that host Rotarians will have in this project. Roles and Responsibilities in Project Little Miracles-ZARA'S LEGACY Host Club – Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City The Host Club will be responsible for managing and administering the project funds. They will: - Receive and safeguard the funds allocated for the project. - Disburse financial aid of USD 600 per child, exclusively for children approved for treatment at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore, India. - Ensure proper documentation and financial accountability for all transactions. - Coordinate with the hospital and ensure that funds are utilized only for the intended medical treatments. International Sponsor Club -Rotary club of carlsbad The International Sponsor Club will: - Receive regular updates and complete medical records of all the children supported under the project. - Be recognized for their critical role in saving the lives of these children through their financial and moral support. - Serve as a global partner, promoting the project’s success and impact in their region and Rotary community. Describe the role that international Rotarians will have in this project. Roles and Responsibilities in Project Little Miracles-ZARA'S LEGACY Host Club – Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City The Host Club will be responsible for managing and administering the project funds. They will: - Receive and safeguard the funds allocated for the project. - Disburse financial aid of USD 600 per child, exclusively for children approved for treatment at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore, India. - Ensure proper documentation and financial accountability for all transactions. - Coordinate with the hospital and ensure that funds are utilized only for the intended medical treatments. International Sponsor Club -Rotary club of carlsbad The International Sponsor Club will: - Receive regular updates and complete medical records of all the children supported under the project. - Be recognized for their critical role in saving the lives of these children through their financial and moral support. - Serve as a global partner, promoting the project’s success and impact in their region and Rotary community. What is the budget for this grant?
Tell us about the funding you have secured for your project.
Humanitarian Projects - Project Planning Describe the community needs that your project will address. prematurity. Work on saving these tiny babies is the biggest mover of neo-natal mortality rate. With modern NICU care and technology along with improvements in perinatal care, survival of these extremely pre-term babies have jumped manifold. The NICU at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital is a referral centre for sick newborns. It is a 22-bed tertiary level state-of-art facility and cares for hundreds of pre-term infants, some as young as 23-24 weeks of gestation and 600 grams at birth. More than 600 babies graduate out of their NICU every year to join their happy families. How did your project team identify these needs. Our team identified the need for the *Little Miracles* initiative through a combination of observation, data analysis, and listening to the experiences of healthcare workers and families in the Neonatal ICU (NICU). We noticed a significant gap in Financial resources and support for vulnerable newborns who required specialized care. Many of these babies faced challenges not just medically, but also in terms of access to funds required to get this treatment. By engaging with NICU nurses, doctors, and parents, we realized that even small interventions — like better access to incubators, breathing support, or family-centered care programs — could make a life-changing difference. This inspired us to create *Little Miracles* as a focused initiative to provide targeted financial support, raise awareness, and ensure that every newborn has a fighting chance to survive and thrive." How were members of the benefiting community involved in finding solutions. the benefiting community parents contributed by : Collaboration with Hospital Team: Parents worked closely with hospital social workers and NGOs associated with the *Little Miracles* project. They provided necessary documents, shared their financial situation, and participated in discussions to find suitable funding options. How were community members involved in planning the project. The community members were informed about finding financial aid through a rotary grant Parents, caregivers, and community leaders formed support groups or committees at the hospital that work together to advocate for financial support from local businesses, NGOs, or government programs and also approached Rotary club of Coimbatore cotton city for help. Members involvement included raising awareness about the financial challenges faced by families with babies in the NICU, encouraging donations and support from a wider audience. Community members volunteered their time to support affected families or help connect them with financial aid programs, healthcare sponsors. Humanitarian Projects - Project Implementation Summarize each step of your project's implementation.
Will you work in coordination with any related initiative in the community? If yes, briefly describe the other initiatives and how they relate to this project. If no, please explain. Are local initiatives not addressing these needs? Or, if they are, why did you decide not to work with them? no Please describe the training, community outreach, or educational programs this project will include. benefits extend well beyond the initial funding period. Sustainability will be achieved through the following strategies: 1. Training of Healthcare Professionals By partnering with Sri Ramakrishna Hospital’s Nursing School Coimbatore, the project will train a cadre of nurses in advanced maternal and neonatal care. These nurses, once trained, will continue to serve in the hospital and surrounding clinics, perpetuating high standards of care. A "train-the-trainer" model will be introduced to allow senior nurses to train successive batches, ensuring knowledge transfer and reducing dependence on external trainers. 2. Community Empowerment through Peer Support The collaboration with NGOs like the Coimbatore Parenting Network will foster strong community-led support systems. By training community volunteers and parents to become peer counselors, the project will create a self-sustaining network that continues to provide guidance, emotional support, and educational resources to families without ongoing financial input. 3. Financial Sustainability through CSR and Local Partnerships The project will proactively approach industrial houses and corporate organizations to secure ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. Engaging these entities early ensures a pipeline of financial support for future training sessions, maintenance of equipment, and further expansion of community programs. Regular impact reporting will be provided to CSR partners to strengthen long-term engagement. 4. Strengthening Institutional Capacity The project will contribute to the strengthening of existing healthcare systems rather than creating parallel structures. By upgrading the capacities of current facilities and staff, the project embeds improvements within the local health infrastructure, making them part of the standard operating procedures at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital coimbatore. 5. Monitoring and Evaluation A robust monitoring and evaluation system will track progress and outcomes, allowing for data-driven adjustments and demonstrating the project's impact to stakeholders. Continuous feedback mechanisms with the hospital management and community groups will ensure that the program evolves to meet changing needs sustainably. How were these needs identified? These needs were identified on the basis of the data we collected from the hospital What incentives (for example, monetary compensation, awards, certification, or publicity), will you use, if any, to encourage community members to participate in the project? AND TO FURTHER HELP THIS PROJECT Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City, would implement strategies like: Incentives & Recognition Ideas: 1. Awards & Honors - “Rotarian of the Month” for those who contribute significantly to NICU support. - Annual *“Service Above Self – NICU Hero” Award. - Certificates of Appreciation for donors, volunteers, and sponsors. - Special recognition during Club Meetings and District Conferences. 2. Publicity & Media Exposure - Highlight members in local newspapers, social media, and Rotary bulletins for their contributions. - Partner with local TV/Radio for short features on Rotarians helping save newborns. - Publish impact stories on the Club website and Rotary International platforms. 3. Naming Opportunities - Name NICU equipment or hospital rooms after major donors or contributors (with hospital approval). - Create a *“Wall of Hope”* at the NICU listing contributing members. 4. Emotional Connection & Storytelling - Organize visits (with permissions) for members to meet NICU graduates or their families. - Share success stories during meetings to show the direct impact of their contributions. 5. Engagement-Based Rewards - Host special appreciation dinners or networking events for active contributors. - Provide badges, pins, or custom Rotary merchandise for those who cross donation or service milestones. List any community members or community groups that will oversee the continuation of the project after grant-funded activities conclude. Doctors and nurses at Sri Ram Krishna hospital Coimbatore, the members of Rotary club of coimbatore cotton city community service committee will oversee the project. Budget Will you purchase budget items from local vendors? Explain the process you used to select vendors. no Did you use competitive bidding to select vendors? If no, please explain. n/a Please provide an operating and maintenance plan for the equipment or materials you purchased for this project. This plan should include who will operate and maintain the equipment and how they will be trained. n/a Describe how community members will maintain the equipment after grant-funded activities conclude. Will replacement parts be available? n/a If the grant will be used to purchase any equipment, will the equipment be culturally appropriate and conform to the community's technology standards? If yes, please explain. If no, describe how the project team will help community members adopt the technology. n/a After the project is completed, who will own the items purchased by grant funds? No items may be owned by a Rotary district, club, or member. n/a Funding Have you found a local funding source to sustain project outcomes for the long term? If yes, please describe this funding source. - Will any part of the project generate income for ongoing project funding? If yes, please explain. no Is your economic and community development activity a microcredit project? If yes, upload your microcredit supplement file. - |