IN 1944, MR & MRS HORMUSJEE VAKEEL'S DREAM TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILD DINA, WHO WAS BORN WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME, A PLACE TO THRIVE AND BE HAPPY IN, COMPELLED THEM TO START JAI VAKEEL AS NO SUCH ESTABLISHMENT EXISTED.
It started from their home educating and providing therapy to a few children to today, a two-acre campus in Sewri - Mumbai along with 2 rural branches in Pune and Nashik district.
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In 1980, after Mrs. Vakeel passed away Dina's sister, Tehmina Shroff who had started coming to the Institute right from when she was a little girl, took over the running of the institute. She did so selflessly and with a deep commitment that she brought to work every single day of her life till 2013.
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Mrs Shroff has left behind an inspirational legacy of the children always coming first and a willingness to do what it takes for each and every child, no matter how profoundly challenged or underprivileged. Her belief "Do not look at their Disability, let's build on their Ability"; guides us in the work that we do. Members of the founding family continue to be active supporters of the foundation. In 2016, we re-branded ourselves as the Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre to pay tribute to our bold and courageous founder, Mrs. Jai Hormusjee Vakeel.
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At Jai Vakeel, volunteers hold key positions and comprise of 27% of our top management.
"THE CHILDREN HAVE GIVEN ME A PURPOSE AND A JOY THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS. I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY IF I HAD NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WALKING THIS ROAD."
-Archana Chandra
