Kids make a sale, ensure education of the underprivileged

Vadodara: ‘Khushiyon Ni Kabat’ project, the first edition of which was held earlier this year took place again in the city, this time, on a much grander scale. The second edition of the project took place on Sunday at the Akota Atithi Gruh.

‘Khushiyon Ni Kabat’ is a new type of fair where citizens of Vadodara bought items with the knowledge that their generosity was being used to educate underprivileged children, and that too for only ten rupees!

People were encouraged to donate clothes and slightly used items. Collecting boxes were placed in select locations throughout the city. This time around, four schools from the city were also included in the collecting process. Students of Navrachana International School, Navrachana Vidhyani Vidhyalaya, Cygnus School and Nalanda International School donated old clothes and used items.

Members of the ‘Khushiyon Ni Kabat’ team had then sorted through these items and filtered the ones that were slightly used. The team had then fixed and decorated the selected items and made them presentable.

Minu Hirode, head of the project, said, “All proceeds from the sale will go towards the education of the 70 children.” The first edition of ‘Khushiyon Ni Kabat’ was pledged for 45 children. “We have been successful in our first endeavour. I sincerely hope we are successful this time as well,” added Hirode.

The project was undertaken by Shree Ananta Charitable Trust, a foundation begun by homemaker Sonal Amin five years ago. Amin, said, “The trust was started with the sole aim of providing for the city’s underprivileged children from various slums of Vadodara.”

The event was hugely successful and unprecedented. Shaunak Kothari, who headed the project with Hirode, said, “The rush was unbelievable. Nearly 4,000 people attended it and about 12,000 items were sold.”

Amin said, “We hope to hold one more edition of the event this year and I hope the citizens of Vadodara will give to the ‘Kabat’ and fill it up again and again.”