A young boy of 19 years had just shifted to Karachi (part of India before partition) from his hometown Limbdi (Saurashtra, India) with his uncle in 1939. He was inspired by Shri Harjivanbhai Somaiya (teacher in Sharda Mandir, Karachi), who used to tell interesting stories to children every Sunday. Enthused with this, on 23rd June, 1941, the second death anniversary of Gijubhai Badheka, this young boy, Indubhai Jivanlal Dave, started an activity centre in his own school campus in Karachi with the aim of imbibing human values among children and reduce misbehavior and use of foul language through activities like story-telling and group games. Thus was born Shishukunj, a garden of children.
Today, Shishukunj has completed 75 years and is spread across 5 continents in the world. What makes Shishukunj unique is the fact that the baalakos who have attended Shishukunj in their childhood have now become karyakars – volunteers, who are carrying forward the philosophy of Shishukunj and are instrumental in expanding the Shishukunj family, wherever they are based. At present, Shishukunj centres are active in Dar-es-Salam (Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya), Mombasa (Kenya), Limuru (Kenya), Croydon (London-UK), Finchley (London-UK), Kent (London-UK), Melbourne (Australia), Georgia (Atlanta-USA), Indore, Bangalore, Dhrangadhra, Mankuva, and Bhuj (India).
With an objective to extend support to child welfare activities through value based approach, based on Shishukunj philosophies to encourage Charity (Seva Pravruti), Education (Shikshan Pravruti) and Child Welfare (Baal Pravruti) activities for the upliftment of children, Shishukunj International Foundation (SIF) was established in 2010 in Ahmedabad. Since its’ inception, SIF has been involved in School infrastructure development, educational resources development, teachers’ training and exposure visits, school support programmes, library support, etc.
This year, to earmark the completion of 75th year of Shishukunj, SIF is organizing broadcast seeding on the site of Shishukunj International School, Bhuj and an educational kit distribution alongside a fun filled outing for slum children. Broadcast seeding will be done with a view to have a natural green boundary around the school maintaining the natural ecosystem of Kachchh. At the same time, a fun filled outing for children from an identified slum area has been organised so that some happy and memorable moments can be created on this special day.
Let us hope that Shishukunj – the garden of children – blossoms and spreads its fragrance to many more lives!
