Saturday 1 October 2016

Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to answers all questions - dedicated to all nomadic children by team VSSM

Rekha Bachubhai Chauhan sponsored
by Smt. Aplaben and Shri Atulbhai
Ambavat
Rekha is a child with ambition and determination. Her story sets a best example of achieving esteem through dedication & focus. Her mother Bhikiben has struggled to earn livelihood, after her husband’s sudden demise, this family was left out in tragic situation.

Bhikiben faced this misfortune with sheer courage, along with her five children she started working in farms on daily wages, she raised them with dignity &  respect, but yet she never wanted her children to live this disastrous life, she wanted her daughters to be educated.

VSSM’s presence in her region & our zeal to make the lives of these nomadic communities desirous was known to major community people, Bhikiben was aware, she enquired about our Girls hostel, being a mother a parting her daughter to faraway place was difficult decision, but Bhikiben was sure that VSSM will make her daughter a civilised and educated human being, her expectations & desires was “I want my daughter to study well and be role models in our community. They should inspire other children from our community to receive education and help eradicate practices like child-marriages from our community, only then will my community really shine,”  

VSSM also helped Bhikiben & and younger son to start a new vocation under our Interest Free Loan – Livelihood Programme. Today Bhikiben owns a small farm & cultivates vegetables & her son runs a small shop in village wherein he sells some confectionery & daily use household items. Gradually this family is out of ruin of misfortunes.

Rekha is fortunate to have found a sponsor. Smt. Alpaben and Shri. Atulbhai Ambavat, friend, well-wishers, supporters & our guardian, has taken the entire responsibility of Rekha’s education until she wants to study.

However, this is not the case with many children who still wait for a sponsor.
They need your support to lead a dignified life and realize their dream. Your gift of Child Sponsorship will mean a new lease of life for such children. Thank you.

The Beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take away from you. Inspires VSSM to develop 1st educated generation of nomadic community...

Sonali (alias Sonal) is a happy and vivacious little girl living with her family in a village of Banaskantha. Her life today is a remarkable example of a father aiming high for his children.

Sonal is the youngest daughter of Ratabhai, her mother is a home maker, Ratabhai’s though belongs to nomadic community and brought up with traditional impartialities of gender and discrimination insolences, his revolutionary attitude makes us all proud of him.
Sonali Ratabhai Saraniya sponsored by
Smt. Alpaben and Ahri Atulbhai Ambavat
Ratabhai works as daily wager in farm, earnings, spending, savings was restricted, but dreams were unlimited. Sonal was studying in 1st grade at her village school. Ratabhai had strong desire to educate his kids, he approached VSSM and requested to support his daughter’s education. VSSM understood his plea & took entire education responsibilities of his children. 

Sonal is studying in 3rd grade in H.B.Kapadia School, Ahmedabad, she stays at our Unnati Girls hostel. This little twinkling eye girl is just so shy nature and very innocent. Her remarkable quality is her attitude to learn things very fast, she likes to jumps on swing , she likes to twist herself on the see-saw, she loves to draw , recently she won in a drawing completion in her school. Mischievous yet adorable, Sonal’s entire education expenses are sponsored by Smt. Alpaben & Shri Atulbhai Ambavat.

Sonal has a goal to acquire, to be educated and successful in life. She has not yet decided what field she may choose. But surely she aims high.  Her brother Kiran is staying in VSSM’s Vatsalya Hostel & studying in a premier school.

Alpaben and Atulbhai are truly Friends and representative of VSSM, through their social and professional network as both being famous CA practitioner, they support our work & create awareness in society of likeminded well-wishers for being associated with us to develop the next educated generation of Nomadic communities.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

We at VSSM teach our children self esteem & ethics of life.



Manisha Jayantibhai Bajaniya
In Gujarat 40 of the 144 communities that feature in the State Government’s list of socially and educationally backward communities are from the Nomadic and De-notified Tribes. Out of these 12 communities are first generation learners. Whereas in few other communities the educational scenario is so distressing that one can count the number of 10th standard pass children on finger tips. 14 of these NT and DNT communities are extremely marginalized and in need of special impetus for development.

Manisha Bajaniya belongs to one of the 14 extremely marginalised nomadic communities. Bajaniya is a fairly large and wide-spread community but survives under primitive and regressive social practices and ills. Illiteracy, unemployment, child marriages, ignorance are just few of the challenges these community reels under. Education is not seen as obligatory within this community while girl child education is absolutely unheard of and child marriages are a norm. 

Jayantibhai’s father was a visionary, his devotion compelled Jayantibhai to complete his education till 10th grade.

He started working with a private company as electric fitter with salary of Rs.3000/-. Meanwhile he came in contact with VSSM during the different activities & programme we conduct for the betterment of Nomadic communities, he started taking an active role & volunteer the developments of these communities , as he has never witness any organisation working for improving the living standard of his community. 

His children started studying in hostels operated by VSSM, with his marginal income he contributed towards the different activities assigned by VSSM, such as helping to obtain Ration Card of Nomadic community, filling Voters ID card and many more.

His helping nature coddle his community people, they started visiting him at his home and our generous Jayantibhai spend his handful income to treat them. Sometimes they visited him at odd hours and in huge numbers, the factory owner objected & considered it as an offense.

Considering Jayantibhai’s dedication towards the aim for betterment of Nomadic people, we offered him to join us, he readily joined the team accepting whatever little remuneration VSSM than offered. His devotion and commitments are high compared to the small rewards we pay him.

VSSM cannot afford to pay competitive salaries to its team so as an organisation we take care of the education of the children of our team members. Hence, all 4 kids of Jayantibhai study in VSSM operated hostels. Manisha is the youngest amongst her siblings. Presently she is studying in 5th Grade in H.B.Kapadia School , Ahmedabad. 

Manisha’s enthusiasm and passion to do better is reflected in her all round development and her participation in various co-curricular activities. She tops in sports, especially in running competition in her school, her hostel mates & friends affectionately call her ‘Milkha’.

Manisha was enrolled in our hostel since last year. She was average in her studies, our karyakars took extra efforts & with personal tuitions she matched with other fellow students. Presently showing improving her performance.

Here we would like to express our gratitude towards Shri. Sanjay R. Shah Charitable Foundation, Mumbai, was referred to us by our well-wisher, donor and friend Shri. Atulbhai Ambavat, under our child sponsorship program - sponsored Manisha for her complete education expense, until she wants to study.

Nomadic Community Child - education a boon - VSSM's initiative

Smiling Manisha!!
Manisha is an icing on cake in our hostel, mischievous yet emotional, bright but sometimes sluggish. We have great hopes from this child.

She belongs to Palanpur Dist. Gujarat State, father Rameshbhai Saraniya, Manisha is the sixth child amongst five elder sisters and two brothers, Rameshbhai is a small dealer in animal trading, this region is hub for inhabitant of buffalo dealers, quality breed animals are found here. But dealers with marginal working capital doesn’t always earn handsome profits. Sometimes he has to go without any work. In such crucial situations he used to work on daily wages.

Manisha’s elder sister worked as house maid in nearby residential societies, her elder brother did not complete his studies, due to bad company he didn’t either bother to finish his schooling and was spoiling his future. Rameshbhai was disappointed with his son’s performance & forced him to work on a tea stall in their village.

Rameshbhai’s endeavour that his children should understand the importance of education, though very lately he realised the need to be educated otherwise he would have educated his elder daughters. Presently his three daughters are studying in our Unnati Hostel. And today Rameshbhai takes pride amongst his community people, for educating his daughters. We too feel honoured as all the three girls are brilliant in their studies.

Manisha is studying in 3rd grade, very lately enrolled in school otherwise today she would have been studying in 5th grade.

Kusumben Shah, a humble and dignified personality from Ahmedabad and well–wisher of VSSM, she expressed her wish to sponsor the complete education expense of a girl child, a thought which came to her when she admitted her grand daughter in school, she thought why not to enlighten a girl’s life with the boon of education.

We suggested Manisha’s name & Kusumben willingly accepted. Manisha is hard working, but very frisky, its difficult for her to sit at one place for few hours, but she dreams high to achieve. She is confident that one day she will become Doctor. VSSM take pride to share that Manisha tops in her class.


We extend our gratitude towards Kusumben and her entire family for being the reason to fulfil dreams of Kantibhai to see his children educated.      

VSSM appeal to come and support every nomadic child.

Parvati Rameshbhai Saraniya, a girl child belonging to the most neglected communities of the country the Saraniyas of Dist. Banaskantha village Vadia. 

Parvati getting ready for School
The situation is worse for the nomadic girl child in northern region of Gujarat, they are often marginalized and at a disadvantaged position in the family, due to cultural factors and religious misinterpretations. The nomadic girl-child is doubly disadvantaged, given her gender, age and ethnicity. Circumstances around her deny her right to education.

Under such stigma lived our little Parvati along with her parents and four siblings. Father Rameshbhai owned a small piece of land, to cultivate with less irrigation facility was challenging his financial conditions. Other source of income was the small shop in village.

Worst phase in his life was when he was diagnosed with kidney failure, he was advised to undergo transplant, was it affordable ??? how can this man survive, who would look after his family?? all these worries was brought to us. We helped him to get free medical treatment of Kidney transplant, his wife donated her kidney. 

Now physically Rameshbhai was fragile, his shop used be closed for most time, his ailment demanded huge medical expenses, worries were unlimited while earning limited. VSSM understood his plea , suggested his elder son Rano to run the shop, under our Livelihood program we granted him interest free loan, this helped him to put the shop in working condition , gradually shop yield good, economic conditions  improved, life again came on track.

Parvati is the fourth child in this family, bright and cheerful. The future looks good nevertheless in education as schools were there, but teachers were absent, books were present but teaching was lacking. Parvati’s younger brother Rajendra was equally bright student, VSSM has so far educated him in renowned schools in Ahmedabad, seeing the remarkable changes in his son, Rameshbhai requested us to enrol Parvati in our Unnati Girls Hostel, Ahmedabad. Rameshbhai’s endeavour that his children should understand the importance of education & be role model in his community.

Though education has always been on high priority for the ruling government in our country.  This is evidenced by the important reforms that the country has initiated in the last few years, including the introduction of new education laws, policies, planning, and increased financing for the sector. Despite commendable results, Banaskantha still faces significant challenges such as a lack of access to quality education for certain groups of children including migrant, rural, and poor children. For these children, going to school is more difficult than for other groups, because of distance to schools and the often nomadic lifestyle of their families.

Presently Parvati is studying in 5th grade in H.B.Kapadia  School, Ahmedabad.  She is enthusiastic and passionate to do better which reflects in her all round development and her participation in various co-curricular activities.

Remarkable & appreciable!! The new era in Saraniyas  is rising, the first educated generation is emerging. 
VSSM’s outstanding efforts are appreciated by people like Shri. Vinodbhai Ambavat. 
Under our Child sponsorship program Shri Vinodbhai has sponsored entire education expense of Parvati, until she wants to study.

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Right of every nomadic child to be educated - A mission of VSSM

Priyanka Bajaniya : a Sponsored child by Shri
Sanjay R. Shah Charitable Foundation
Child Name : Pinky Kanubhai Bajaniya
Sponsor: Shri. Sanjay R. Shah Charitable Foundation.

The extremely lively and inquisitive Pinky Bajaniya is a 5th grade student staying with VSSM’s Unnati girls hostel. Pinky hails from one of the most marginalised nomadic communities the 'Bajaniya'. Crumbling livelihoods, ignorance, illiteracy, child -marriages, medieval mindsets and orthodox social practices are some of the factors plaguing this community that continues to survive in shackles of extreme poverty. Under such conditions there are girls like Pinky who have began receiving education and promise of a better tomorrow.

Pinky’s father Kanubhai Bajaniya could study till 4th grade only. Like all in their community, he and his wife too have lived a wandering life finding refuge on footpaths or pavements, working as labourers through the day to raise their 4 children. The daily toil Kanubhai undertook,  made him realise the importance of education. He had decided very early to educate all his 4 kids and give them a better life then his. So determined was he that inspite of his wife’s resistance he enrolled all his 4 children in VSSM hostels. The opposition by his wife was so intense that the couple would end up fighting on the matter. Kanubhai too has been victim of the practice of child-marriage and the couple had four kids very early into their marriage. He was aware that had his parents made different choices his fate would have been different and hence  was determined  not repeating the mistakes his parents had made and provide better opportunities to his children.  He went against the will of his entire family and enrolled his two daughters  Pinky and Varsha at Unnati hostel.

Kanubhai has always been a hard worker. He consider the problems of other as his own. Looking at his dedication and compassion  we asked him to join the grassroots team of VSSM. At present he works with the nomadic communities settled in Rajkot. VSSM cannot afford to pay competitive salaries to its team so as an organisation we take care of the education of the children of our team members. Hence, all 4 kids of Kanubhai study in VSSM hostels.

We talked about Pinky to our dear friend Shri. Atulbhai Ambavat. He referred us to   Shri. Sanjay R. Shah Charitable Foundation. The trust agreed to sponsor educational expenses of 3 girls as long as they continue to study. Pinky is one of these 3 girls.

Pinky has been enrolled in H. B. Kapadia High School one of the leading private schools of Ahmedabad. She dreams of giving a better life to her parents once she completes her study.

“I want my children to study well and be role models in our community. They should inspire other children from our community to receive education and help eradicate practices like child-marriages from our community. Only then will my community really shine,”  Kanubhai’s opinion.

We are thankful to Shri. Sanjay R. Shah Charitable Foundation for the support they have extended to help Pinky and us to realise her dream…..

A Saraniya girl rising from the shadow of nomadic life with help of VSSM

Child Name : Pinkle Kantibhai Saraniya
Sponsor         : Ms. Shrutiben Ambavat


Pinkle Kantibhai Saraniya, the youngest daughter of kantibhai.
Kantibhai was engaged in buffalo trading business, with marginal capital investment he barely managed to feed his family, sometimes he has to go without any work. In such crucial situations he used to work on daily wages in Palanpur. He was the sole earning person for such a huge family. 

He had strong desire to educate his kids, he approached VSSM and requested to support his daughters for education. VSSM understood his plea & took entire education responsibilities of his children, Till now we have educated his daughters in different hostels . Since this year his children are studying in our Vatsalya Hostel & Unnati Hostel.

Pinkle has an elder sister & two brothers Sendho & Khemo. Sendho is promoted to 10th class, he has scored good in 9th class. He is a brilliant student & continues to stay at our hostel for further studies. He has gained maturity at very young age, understands the self-esteem of life. 
Kantibhai desires, likewise her two brothers Pinkle should also be educated.  

Earlier government schools were out of reach from the settlements where kantibhai stayed with his family. He did not had enough heart to allow his little daughter to walk miles to attend school in Palanpur. Ultimately he convinced to send Pinkle to our Unnati Hostel, Ahmedabad. She was admitted in 4th grade, she was an average student , our team worked dedicated to improve her studies , presently she is stuying in 5th grade. In H.B. Kapadia School. 

Pinkle is a twinkling star, very mischievous, yet adorable. She has a goal acquire education and be successful in life. She has not yet decided what field she may choose. But surely she aims high.  Her brother Sendho regularly guides her in her studies.

Pinkle’s desire to study & Kantibhai’s dream to see his daughter educated was conveyed to our well-wisher Ms. Shrutiben Ambavat though VSSM’s friend Shri. Atulbhai Ambavat. Under our child sponsorship program, Shrutiben readily agreed to sponsor Pinkle for her complete education expense, until she wants to study.

VSSM along with our hostel children will always be grateful to Shrutiben & our society of likeminded well-wishers for being associated with us to develop the next educated generation of Nomadic communities.