Every day is a new opportunity to improve our lives. This means taking action consistently towards our goals and life’s purpose. Jagruti Ganatra, co-owner of Setu – a hobby center for specially-abled children – is one of them who has a mission to build a great center for specially-abled children. She continues to improve the lives of specially-abled children and empower them to become more independent.
Born for greatness
Jagruti was born on 22nd August 1972 in Rajkot. Her father – Chunilal K. Ganatra – is a retired officer from Bank of Baroda and her mother – Kokilaben K. Ganatra – is a housewife. She completed her B.Com, D.C.S. and further specialized in B.Ed in VI (Visual Impairment). After her graduation, she started working with V D Parekh Blind School.
Starting is half the task
Some years back, the blind school needed assistance in choreographing Garba for the blind girls. Neha Thakar was a Garba choreographer in Rajkot. Through known sources, she was offered this task. That is how Jagruti met Neha.
One day they had an interaction with Mrs. Kruti Vasavada who works with intellectually challenged children. She had a thought to open a center for specially-abled children to serve as a bridge between our world and theirs where they can play, learn and do different activities. That is how Jagruti Ganatra along with Neha Thakar started the center of Setu Foundation in 2013.
Focus in place
They first started Setu in a small room of a school on the airport road of Rajkot. Kruti Vasavda helped them at the beginning with the rent as they had no funds to support the center. They started the center with 3-4 children. When they started the center, they had no experience or training to handle these children. Initially, their focus was to share love and keep the children happy. They did drawings and played outdoor games on the campus of that school where the center started. They used to collect used drawing books and games/toys from the friends and relatives for these children to use at the center.
They started the center in February but after almost 3 months there was a summer vacation in May-June. There was an activity on Red FM Radio Channel, which was Red FM ka Thappa, and it was for social work. So the Red FM team visited their center and gave them a Red FM ka Thappa for social work. So, the center got publicity through news and media.
In summer vacation, Mr. Ashwin Chandarana, an authorized person of one of the clubs of JCI, offered them to start a summer camp. They had no funds to support the summer camp activities. However, they were determined to do it and advertised in different schools. But only 7-8 children came to the camp. Still, they made arrangements for the different games and outdoor activities, something which children can do on their own. The club arranged snacks and food for the children during the camp. So it was the first huge experience for the center. But then they realized the real purpose of this center wasn’t to just make children happy with some indoor or outdoor games.
Before Navratri, they thought of arranging a Garba during Navratri for the specially-abled children, and it needed funds and a place to organize this event. With their initial experience of summer camp, they took a chance and asked Pareshbhai of Nagar boarding for a place to organize Garba for the kids. Pareshbhai gladly allowed them to use a place for a day and helped to plan snacks for the children, and Kiritbhai Ganatra from Akila also supported them by advertising the event in newspapers.
They were expecting entries of around 25 children, but to their surprise, they received 110 entries. They were overwhelmed with the response and worried about managing so many children. However, as they had good intentions, they received help and funding for children’s gifts from many well-wishers. Eventually, 150 children came for the Garba event and they managed everything well.
Leaping with faith
After this event, they wanted to do activities that would generate revenue for the center. So they started doing Garba pot decoration with the help of children. They asked friends and relatives to buy these Garba pots and they estimated to make 25 pots. As their Navratri event was successful, they got publicity easily as people already knew about them. They spread a message for prior booking for decorated Garba pots so that it could help them plan. From this activity, they sold 110 Garba pots and earned around 5000 Rs. for the first time for the center’s fund. So they decided to give vocational training to these children to make them independent.
During the whole year, they did three events: the Navratri Garba event, summer camp, and also arranged a funfair for these children. So, as more children started coming, they shifted Setu to Rajputpara, near Lodhavad Chowk, Jain Balashram, which has a huge ground. Here they could arrange a funfair for children. They asked parents of these children to have a stall in the funfair and they accepted no profit from the selling of any items. So, that’s how in February month they arranged a funfair, in May month they arranged summer camp for 15 days and during Navratri, they organized a Garba event for a day for mentally challenged children of Rajkot.
Making Rakhi and selling activities during the Diwali festival are other sources of income for the center. This is how they paid these children for their work and efforts. In between, for 2 years they also sold eco-friendly Ganpati during the Ganesh festival. They have also made Diwali lamps with the help of children and sold them. They also participated in an exhibition, where they could display their items.
From 5 children in 2013 to 30 children in 2019 before lockdown, and providing 700 Rs. Per head to the children in a year to 3500 Rs. Per head to the children, they have grown with their children. As of now, their regular activities are closed due to Covid-19. They bond with the children and their parents by going for an annual dinner. They celebrate every festival at the Setu center with the children. What started as making the children happy now extended to bring the children near conventional society.
Jagruti considers her students as her role models as they teach her how to live life to date. She receives good support from society, well-wishers, and her family. She is amazed by the tremendous change in the children who have transformed from once struggling to do basic normal activities to now getting more independent and confident. They are looking for more activity for specially-abled children as they want them to grow and develop the center more for such children.
Her passion to support and accept the specially-abled children leaves her satisfied and gives her purpose. She has a very creative mind and she tries to come up with new creative activities for the children.
Today’s Achievements for what seemed impossible yesterday
They have received different awards for their social work like, from Rotary Club of Rajkot Midtown, from Narshi Foundation Trust, from Atmaja Vrund, from Utkarsh Civic Group, Red FM (Bade Dilwale award), Prayas Parent Association, J.C.I. Rajkot Yuva Club, Yuva Tamanna Ratna Award, from Shree Arvinbhai Maniyar Jankalyan Trust, from Mat Pita Smruti Trust, from Samarpan Charitable Trust.
