Though rooted in conserving nature, club does a lot of community activities

If community service is what you have in mind, then this club might just be for you. Like their tagline 'Make the most of it,' the One Life Club aims at bringing together individuals who want to make things happen.

Arvind Bijwe, a 31-year-old-professional, decided to start the club when he felt he wasn't following his hearts calling. "I decided to get off the rat race and focus on what I wanted to do. Community service was on top my list and on October 2, 2008, One Life Club was born."

Members of the club indulge in various forms of art, cultural activities, sporting events and the club does everything that it believes will add 'life' to one's existence. At its very core, it is a nature club and believes that one can create a difference through positive thoughts and actions.

Nature first
"Our first activity was a nature walk which involved watering plants at Panchawati hills," said Arvind. "Under our 'Mission Green Earth' initiative, people may just come to water a tree, or bring a sapling or plant or adopt a tree every Sunday at 7 am," added Arvind.

Another initiative was the 'Seeds to Sapling' campaign organised in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation. Students from 65 schools participated in the event. "I loved talking to children, as they went around planting trees. We also discussed rising sea levels," said Dulal Krishna Majumdar, a retired Navy officer.

The club is one of the motivational forces behind the growing concern for nature within the Panchawati and Pashan area.

Health is wealth
"We also have a wellness and health initiative and have over 250 gym members out of our total strength of 300," Arvind said. The gym helps the club earn its finances. "Whatever money we make, we put back into our social activities," Arvind added.