I am a trustee of the Shri Umarsadi Vibhag Kelavni Mandal, which is a family run educational trust that has started two schools in Umarsadi, in the Valsad District of South Gujarat, India.
The Jal Vikaji Bhiladwala School (JBVS) was established in 1962 and has been serving the local community in Umarsadi, Gujarat, for over 50 years. JBVS was set up in the memory of Jal Bhiladwala who died in a tragic accident. He was much loved by the local community and to honour his memory they raised a substantial sum of money which they gave to his family. Knowing how committed he was to the welfare of the community, his family started this school for the children of poor farmers and fisher folk of Umarsadi, not far from his home in Killa Pardi and the heritage town of Udwada.
The school is managed by a Trust and many of its past and present members are former students of the school and descendants of the Bhiladwala family. Over time the Trustees of the school have raised funds and in kind donations, locally and globally and have expanded the High School to now include a Pre-primary section and primary school. The Pre-primary section was made possible by a donation from a close friend Adi Khambata’s family and therefore the school has been named after his mother, Gulbai Gandhi Pre Primary School. The Managing trust Shri Umarsadi Vibhag Kelavni Mandal has two schools under its wings – the Jal Vikaji Bhiladwala Smarak High School and the Gulbai Gandhi Pre Primary School.
A total of four building blocks make up the compound with ample land still available to build additional blocks and to be used for sporting activities. The school has a functional computer lab supported by donations from companies updating their own hardware and giving us their older computers.
The school is located on the edge of the village lake not far from the sea and has a green, cool and calm environment – perfect for learning. The progressive and extremely involved Principal and staff do everything in their power to seed and nurture universal values in our students. Their commitment is so extraordinary that often they themselves raise funds and make personal donations to support students who simply cannot afford the fees. Thanks to their efforts clean and cool drinking water facilities, sanitary napkin dispensers and disposal systems amongst other equipment have been installed.
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