Rambhai Has Dedicated His Life To Helping Underprivileged Special Kids Succeed

“I was in the third year of BCom when I suddenly lost my eyesight. My whole family was relying on me. I was the only one who could earn at that point, and in one day my whole life came crashing down. I dropped out of college and had to restart my whole life. That should have left me broken. But I’m not one to give up.” - Rambhai Patel, Founder, NAB, Gujarat

Rambhai tried every treatment he could to try and get back part of his vision but to no avail. However, in the process, he found hope - at NAFB training centre in Bombay. Rambhai was able to complete his undergraduate studies and even started working as a telephone operator for a bank. He then thought that if he could make it so far with the right kind of support, then other people like him deserved the chance too. This led him to start NAB in his hometown, Valsad, Gujarat. 

Rambhai Is The Reason Behind The Success Of Many Children With Visual Impairments

Rambhai started NAB in 1984 with 8-10 students. A survey he conducted in the nearby villages and forest areas led him to discover that there were many visually impaired children who had little to no support or guidance to make it through life. Thus began Rambhai's selfless and noble mission of giving underprivileged children and adults with visual impairments food, shelter, education, training and more. 

“The children that come to us don’t even have a pair of slippers to call their own. Let alone the chance of getting a good education. Here we give them everything they could need to live a better life. And I’ve seen how they’ve grown with the right kind of guidance. Not only do they learn skills, but I’ve also seen improvements in their mobility and thinking. Specially abled Children are often written off, but I can proudly say that many of our children have gone to get good jobs and stand on their own feet.”

Rambhai takes pride in sharing the success stories of the children who have received vocational training and education at their centre. One child has been selected for India's bl! nd cricket team, while another has become a music teacher and one has become a railway announcer. More than 80 individuals have found employment and financial independence, thanks to the training they received in subjects such as reading, writing, arithmetic, science, geography, and other related fields. The centre also provides vocational training in various jobs that are suitable for visually impaired individuals, such as telephone operation, typing, computers, carpentry, weaving, wicker, chair caning, and file/folder making. Students also learn how to read braille and use various devices such as computers, speech synthesizers, typewriters, telephones, and calculators.

NAB needs your help to get groceries, hygiene products, sanitary pads, braille paper and more to ensure that Rambhai can look after all their needs. Together, we can help them achieve their goals.

About the NGO:
NAB, Valsad is a leading district association in Gujarat, established in 1984. It was started by Shri. Rambhai K. Patel, who lost his eyesight at a young age. NAB, Valsad provides education and vocational training to specially abled students as well as adults in subjects such as reading, writing, arithmetic, science, geography, and other subjects. For those who cannot afford to live on their own, NAB Valsad offers food, accommodation, hostel, and lodging facilities. They also provide vocational training in various jobs that can be done by someone who is visually impaired such as telephone operation, typing, computers, carpentry, weaving, wicker, chair caning, and file/folder making. Currently, they care for 132 children, and Rambhai is determined to empower and uplift each one of them.