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.

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…..

Yash - Little Feet. Big Strides For Nomads.

Yash Nayak Sponsored Child By
Shri. Vinodbhai Bhagat

Yash Kanubhai Nayak is the eldest son of Kanubhai, our truly dedicated field worker. Kanubhai’s family belonged to Vanod village, Tal. Dasada, Dist. Surendranagar. 

This village has huge settlements of bajaniya community, children below 10 years had almost stopped going to school, government schools are far from their reach.

Kanubhai tried helping and supporting the organisation in the manner he could, most of the times spending his own money to support the organisation. He also spread the word on VSSM amongst his community. In 2008 when VSSM received money to form a team it asked Kanubhai to be a part of the team. He readily joined the team accepting whatever little remuneration VSSM than offered. 

Once he began to get actively involved and absorbed the principles of VSSM he understood the importance of education and focused on sending his children to school. Kanubhai dreams of educating Yash all the way and make him a role model in their community. 

Kanubhai’s earlier life was full of hardship, to meet daily requirements he had done all odd jobs, but still the essence for education was strong, with bare minimum wages he has managed to pay school fees of Yash. Till 2nd std. Yash studied in Govt. school at Vanod, then after he was admitted to Swaminarayan Gurukul Hostel at Kheda, which accommodated our nomadic children to  stay along with their local students.

Currently he is studying in 9th Std. at N.V.School at Naroda & stays in our Vatsalya Hostel campus along with other Nomadic community children. 

Yash is brilliant student & very disciplined child. He has 3 siblings, all sisters Priyanka, Varsha & Neha. Priyanka & Varsha are acquiring their education in one of the renowned school of Ahmedabad H.B.Kapadia School & stays at our Unnati Girls Hostel, while the youngest amongst these Neha stays at our Vatsalya Hostel. 

Yash is a bundle of joy!! Happy and cheerful, must to say very helpful to others hostel mates. 

Shri. Vinodbhai Bhagat, our well-wisher & donor from Mumbai, has sponsored Yash under our child sponsorship program, for his complete education expense, until he wants to study.

RAJAL BAJANIYAA MOTIVATING A POSITIVE SHIFT IN RIGID MINDSETS….

Rajal Bajaniya : A Sponsored child by
Mitaben Thakkar

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. Based on our learning it can be said that children of 12 of these 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

Rajal Bajaniyaa is an inspirational young girl from the Harij in Patan and belongs to one of the 14 extremely marginalised nomadic communities. Bajaniyaa 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.  

Rajal’s father Mohanbhai earned his living as ear and nose piercer and  selling artificial jewellery in a glass box. During the times when VSSM had just began gathering  primary information on the nomads, Mohanbhai tried helping and supporting the organisation in the manner he could, most of the times spending his own money to support the organisation. He also spread the word on VSSM amongst his community. In 2008 when VSSM received money to form a team it asked Mohanbhai to be a part of the team. He readily joined the team accepting whatever little remuneration VSSM than offered. 

Once he began to get actively involved and absorbed the principles of VSSM he understood the importance of education and focused on sending his children to school. Rajal joined the Doliya Hostel when she was in grade 2. Mohanbhai dreams of educating Rajal all the way and make her a role model in their community. Rajan is sharp and good in her studies. Today she is a grade 7 student at Ahmedabad’s H. B. Kapadia School. Rajal’s exuberance and zeal to do better  is reflected in her all round development and her participation in various co-curricular activities. Watching her bloom into a confident young girl,  the members of her community are wanting to send their daughters to hostel as well. 

Recently when VSSM talked to its well-wisher’s about its child-sponsorship program Ahmedabad’s Mitaben Thakkar offered her committment  to sponsor  the complete educational expense of  Rajal until she wants to study.