TOREE South Kolkata Toree Social and Cultural Welfare Society

Our work

What we do, and who it reaches.

Seven strands of work, carried by the same small group of volunteers, all year round.

A student receiving the Bidyayan Scholarship on stage from a guest at the award ceremony.
Bidyayan Scholarship award ceremony.

01. Education

The Bidyayan Scholarship

Introduced in 2019, the Bidyayan Scholarship is awarded every year to students, especially those from rural areas, who have passed their Madhyamik examinations and are continuing on to Higher Secondary studies.

Eminent guests have joined us over the years to inspire the students, including Mala Roy (Member of Parliament); Bhaskar Ganguly, Surojit Sengupta and Shyamal Ghosh (former players, Indian Football Team); Dibyendu Barua (Grandmaster, Chess) and Saheli Dhar Barua (Woman International Master and FIDE Instructor); and Sambaran Banerjee (former Captain, Bengal Cricket Team and former national cricket selector).

A student receiving the scholarship from a guest at the Annual Social. A guest presenting a scholarship award to a student. A scholarship being handed over on stage at the award ceremony. Four scholarship recipients standing together with a member of TOREE.
Two visually impaired students singing into microphones on a brightly lit stage.
Students performing at the Independence Day programme at Axis Mall.

02. Visually impaired students

A stage of their own

We involve visually impaired students in our club programmes, giving them a platform to perform and showcase their talent in music, recitation, dance and drama. This includes 'Kobi Pranam', an audio drama presented by the students.

A young child singing at a microphone, supported by a member of TOREE. A boy playing an electric guitar at a club programme. A student singing at a Kobi Pranam programme, accompanied by members. Students performing on stage in front of a large screen at an Independence Day event.
A girl drawing on a sheet of paper on the pavement. Children sitting together with plates of food at a street celebration.

03. Underprivileged children

Bringing children into the fold

Orphans, children living in red-light districts, and children living on the pavements of Kolkata join us in celebrating landmark days on the calendar: Independence Day, Children's Day, Rakhi Bandhan and Holi. Sit-and-draw competitions are also organised on the streets of the city.

Children and members holding national flags at an Independence Day celebration. Children receiving gift bags from members of TOREE. Children from a red-light district celebrating Holi. Children at an orphanage celebrating Independence Day.
An elderly woman holding folded garments received at a village camp. A member of TOREE handing garments to a woman at a distribution camp.

04. Rural communities

Reaching remote villages

Mosquito nets, winter clothing and garments are distributed among disadvantaged families in remote villages of nearby districts, including Gosaba in the Sundarbans and the village of Bagdah in Dakshin Durgapur. The nets guard against mosquito-borne illness, and the garments meet daily needs.

An elderly woman holding a blanket at a village distribution camp. Members handing out garments from tables at a village camp. Villagers seated under an awning at a TOREE distribution camp. Volunteers travelling with supplies in the Sundarbans.

05. Environment

'Save Green'

Banners at our club programmes reinforce the importance of water conservation, tree planting and reducing plastic waste. Small plants are gifted to commuters on the streets of Kolkata during Rakhi Bandhan.

An awareness video released on social media brought together voices including novelist Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay and footballer Surojit Sengupta, each sharing a word of caution on environmental issues.

A 'Save Green' awareness poster displayed at a club programme. A community discussion about saying no to plastic. A small plant being gifted to a commuter during Rakhi Bandhan.

06. Relief work

Standing by in a calamity

When natural calamities strike, we come forward for relief work in the affected areas of nearby districts. In 2021, when the severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' caused significant damage along the coast of West Bengal, we distributed garments, mosquito nets, food and other essentials in Purba Medinipur.

Local people gathering for essentials after cyclone Yaas. Children in Purba Medinipur after a cyclone Yaas relief distribution.

07. Culture and community

Celebrating together

Beyond our focus programmes, TOREE marks the cultural rhythms of the Bengali calendar and keeps its own community close throughout the year.

Members and guests on stage during the Annual Social of the club.
The Annual Social, held each year.

Cultural programmes

Diverse cultural moods and sentiments of Bengal are celebrated with programmes through the year, from the Annual Social to quiz competitions and invitational performances by members.

A panel of guests including former footballers at a TOREE event. Prize recipients at a quiz competition organised by the club.
A member tying a rakhi on a child's wrist on a street in Kolkata.
Rakhi Bandhan, celebrated on the streets of the city.

Community service

A drinking water distribution camp is organised every year on Bengali New Year's Day for devotees at Lake Kali Temple. Every year, Rakhi Bandhan is also celebrated on the streets of Kolkata: a small thread and a small gift, exchanged with strangers.

Volunteers distributing drinking water at a temple camp. A garment distribution camp run by TOREE.

Get involved

Want to be part of this?

Every programme above runs on the time and support of people who choose to get involved. Get in touch to find out how you can help.

Contact TOREE