As Christmas drew near in Kyebando, the familiar rhythm of music and laughter carried a softer note of reflection. For the third consecutive year, the Ruparelia Foundation returned to the community not merely to celebrate the festive season, but to uphold a tradition inspired by the late Rajiv Ruparelia, whose belief in community-focused celebration continues to shape the foundation’s outreach.
Friday’s event brought together families, children and volunteers in a setting where the spirit of Christmas was expressed more through shared participation than grand display.
Addressing residents, Chryshna Ruparelia explained that the initiative is grounded in Rajiv’s belief that Christmas should extend beyond individual households and be shared with those often overlooked.
She reflected on how he personally launched the programme two years ago, viewing it as a way to blend joy with social responsibility. “He believed Christmas held the greatest meaning when celebrated together with the community, especially children and the vulnerable,” she said, adding that this year’s gathering was intentionally held in his honour.
What began as a single outreach visit has since grown into a yearly commitment. The programme was continued last year under the leadership of Shina Ruparelia through the Ruparelia Foundation and has now become a permanent part of the foundation’s annual activities.
Organisers say the objective goes beyond seasonal assistance. Their focus is on building long-term relationships with communities, returning consistently rather than offering one-off support.
This year’s efforts are also expanding beyond Kyebando. Preparations are underway to take the celebrations to Nansana, where around sixty children are expected to participate. The foundation has indicated plans to introduce a new location each year, a measured expansion that prioritises meaningful engagement over rapid growth.
Collaboration has been key to the programme’s success. Annette Kim, a team leader at the Ruparelia Foundation, highlighted the partnership with the Ekilawuli community group, which specialises in recycling used plastic bottles.Through this collaboration, waste plastic is cleaned and transformed into reusable household items such as plates, linking environmental conservation with practical everyday use.
She noted that the initiative also creates income and skills-building opportunities for single mothers involved in collecting and processing the bottles, turning an environmental problem into a source of livelihood.
In addition to the recycling project, families received food supplies, school materials and sanitation items—simple but meaningful support that residents said would help ease holiday pressures. For many children, however, the greatest gift was less material: the feeling of being included in a celebration often shaped by inequality.
Chryshna Ruparelia commended Shina Ruparelia and the organising team for keeping the programme alive, and expressed appreciation to partners and volunteers for their contributions.
As she wished the community a peaceful Christmas and a hopeful new year, her words reflected the guiding philosophy behind the foundation’s work.
In honouring Rajiv Ruparelia, the family has chosen continuity over ceremony, allowing his vision to live on through consistent presence and practical action rather than symbolic gestures alone.
