Vidyadaan
Padmashree Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya, born poor could study only till the 6th standard. But education provided him the opportunity to move out of poverty. After facing great hardship, in 1939, he founded sugar factories at Sakarwadi and Laxmiwadi in Maharashtra.
Believing education is the one tool that can better life of the poor, he decided the best Daan (giving back to society) would be Vidyadaan (Gift of knowledge). He founded Trust in 1959 to create quality education institutions. The motto of is Knowledge alone liberates.
Established Somaiya Vidyamandir Schools at Sakarwadi and Laxmiwadi to educate children of the factory employees, and later included children from the surrounding villages.
The first school in Sakarwadi, Somaiya Vidyamandir, now provides quality education to children from villages of Wari, Kanhegaon, Hanumanwadi, Sade, Bhojade, Dhotre and other villages from Talukas of Shrirampur, Rahata, Kopargaon and Vaijapur.
Somaiya Vidyamandir, Laxmiwadi in Rahata Taluka, has children coming from Talukas of Kopargaon, Shrirampur and Sangamner which are near to Laxmiwadi, and nearby villages including Nighoj, Nimgaon, Shirdi, Rui, Sonewadi, Dorhale, Korhale, Nimshiwadi, and Savalivihir.
Somaiya Vidyamandir School in Sakarwadi, built on a 10 acre campus has spacious classrooms, a library, movie hall, science laboratory, well-equipped computer laboratory, and music hall. These facilities make students always engaged in different co-curricular & extra-curricular activities.
With the active support of Godavari Biorefineries has been closely involved in developing the schools at Sakarwadi and Laxmiwadi.
- Sociology Students and Professor from S. K. Somaiya Degree College of Arts, Science and Commerce visited each family in the villages to understand the socio–economic situation of the family, parents and child. Detailed analysis discussed with a School committee that includes Mr. Samir Somaiya, the relevant School Principal, and Academic experts from, Mumbai. They discuss solutions to address issues and evolve teaching methods that impart holistic education to the children. The development of talented children, or children having special economic or social problems are all addressed individually.
- Engineering Students of K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering and Information Technology, conducted a robotics workshop for the students in Sakarwadi.
- Students and faculty from Cornell University, doing research at, Mumbai, were invited to these schools. They demonstrated experiments in Science, discussed with the teachers there different methods in teaching.
- The schools have a telescope. Each year, an ex director of Nehru Planetarium, associated with visits the two schools. Besides showing films on the ‘stars and planets’ he conducts stars viewing trip.
- The officials of Godavari Biorefineries Limited supervise the food provided to the children as part of the Midday meal. The company also supports the events such as inter-school competitions at the Taluka, District and state level organised by the school.
Impact
Somaiya Vidya Mandir – Sakarwadi(Tal: Kopargaon, Dist.: Ahmednagar)
97.70 %Pass Result
92.20 %Topper in the School Tanuja C Kale
20% No. of Students passed with Distinction
| 1. | Tanuja C Kale | 92.20 % |
| 2. | Devyani N Gagare | 92.00 % |
| 3. | Pratiksha S More | 91.60 % |
Somaiya Vidya Mandir – Laxmiwadi (Tal: Rahata, Dist.: Ahmednagar)
91.30 %Pass Result
94.00 %Topper in the School
Puja K Tribhuvan
16% No. of Students passed with Distinction
| 1. | Puja K Tribhuvan | 94.00 % |
| 2. | Vrushali S Ghane | 92.80 % |
| 3. | Priyanka A Paghire | 91.80 % |
| 4. | Rudra A Jambhulkar | 91.80% |
Shri Sharda English Medium School(Tal: Kopargaon, Dist.: Ahmednagar)
98.48 % Pass Result
96.40 % Topper In School
Gargi Patil, Aishwarya Shinde
73.48 %Passed With Distinction
| 1. | Gargi D. Patil | 96.40% |
| 2. | Aishwarya V. Shinde | 96.40% |
| 3. | Samriddhi J. Randive | 96.00% |
| 4. | Sunny S. Dhadiwal | 94.80% |
Principals Quotes
Principal Vidya Mandir, Sakarwadi
"We involve ourselves in the children’s academic progress, helping them when they need support for the difficulties they are facing. Further, we counsel parents on the importance of education and its positive impact on the child and the community. Keeping them informed about the child progress , we also advice them on how to motivate and encourage the child."
Parents from low-income backgrounds find fulfilling basic needs of the child a challenge. While understanding education is important for their child, they cannot support their child at home for studying etc. For them, earning for their daily living takes all day . The children often help in house work and some even work in fields. We are sensitive to this and make sure that the children stay motivated. Thus making education affordable and accessible is important. When parents see the school is of a good quality it makes the sacrifices that the make for the child to study there, worth the effort.
The factory management and the Somaiya Vidyavihar trust take great interest in the school. This gives the villagers a confidence in sending the children to the school.
Principal Vidya Mandir, Laxmiwadi
"The education is in Marathi medium, so parents are comfortable educating their children in it. We encourage our students to grow as good human beings. Children, themselves decorate some walls in the classrooms. The school has separate toilet blocks for girls and boys with flush facilities which a great impact on girls attending school."
The school has a grand Badminton Hall with different sports facilities like Table Tennis, Cricket, Football, Handball and other rural games and sports. We encourage students to take part in the inter-school competitions at the Taluka, District and State level and hold district level championships in our school. This allows our students to meet students from across the state. Music and dance is also encouraged.
Mr. Samir Somaiya makes it a point to meet the students and spend time with the children. Guests coming to the plant, meet the students and interact with them. All this makes coming to school exciting and a learning experience.
Because of the school’s good facilities, we get good teachers. There is great pride in being part of the Somaiya Vidyavihar family.
