Vidya Vikas Charitable Trust celebrates its 5th Anniversary
On June 20, 2007, Pujya Bhaishri addressed a packed audience of invited guests at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Wayne, New Jersey. The event was organized by Vidya Vikas Charitable Trust (V.V.C.T.), a USA based non profit organization, inspired by Pujya Bhaishri whose primary goal is to provide education in villages and disaster affected areas in India. The program included devotional songs by renowned singers Kiran Kothari, Darshana Acharya, and Trupti Parikh to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Vidya Vikas Charitable Trust. The program also included a slide show by Girish Mehta.
| Darshana Acharya, Trupti Parikh & Kiran Kothari | Artists performing at Bhajan Sandhya | Young Adult MC – Manshi Joisher |
Pujya Bhaishri stated that education is the best investment in humanity, as it produces the highest return by transforming the society. He explained that a person with good eyesight also couldn’t walk in the dark. Education is the light that shows path through the darkness of agyan, illiteracy.
V.V.C.T. president Dr. Navin Mehta illustrated the importance of education in his own as well as lives of many people he knew, having come to the USA with a degree and little money. The efforts of V.V.C.T. were evident in the slide show presented by Girish Mehta, a trustee who volunteers to visit schools for needy students in rural and disaster affected regions of India.
| Over 500 devotees in Attendance | Param Pujya Bhaishri Devotees & supporters | Dr. Navin Mehta – President of VVCT addressing devotees |
Madhav Nagar, the first disaster relief project undertaken by V.V.C.T. after the earthquake of January 26, 2001 in Kutch consisted of a 52-home development with amenities such as water, sewer and electricity, roads, and a primary school with library. Madhav Nagar was completed less than 10 months, followed by Radha Nagar, a similar project with 130 homes that was completed in November 2003. Out of $87,000 received in donations for student sponsorship and disaster relief, $62,000 has been disbursed, and $25,000 has been earmarked for disbursement to various institutions. Beneficiaries include a tribal school in Saputara, Manthan School for handicap girls in Ahmedabad, PragnaChakshu School for blind in Junagadh, Aahir Samaj Girls’ School in Kutch, Saheli School near Porbandar, and a girls’ school in Palanpur.
| Kenny Desai – Vice President of VVCT addressing devotees | Slide show by VVCT TrusteeGirishbhai Mehta | Projects Sponsored by VVCT |
Guests were praised for their support for humanitarian efforts and were invited to visit projects initiated by V.V.C.T.