Maker Day at Gajera Trust in association with Sunita Makerspace is always a special success. This year, learners from Gajera Group of Schools came together to create an inspiring and innovative tribute to Mother Nature. Across categories spanning Innovation, Creativity, Synergy and Social, the series of events was organised by Sunita Makerspace, a platform that honours depth of learning while empowering young minds with passion-centred pedagogy.

Trustees Shri Chunibhai Gajera, Shri Girdharbhai Gajera and Shri Bakulbhai Gajera Felicitated Vatsalyadham Students

Transforming the current landscape of education is no ordinary task. However, Sunita Makerspace, established in 2015 (first at Vatsalyadham) basis the creative vision of Founder and Director, Ms. Kinjal Chunibhai Gajera took this on as a challenge. It has continued to successfully provide direction as well as a platform where children can explore, experiment and implement their ideas. The peer-to-peer learning culture unique to the Trust pedagogy encourages synergy and social skills while driving creativity and innovation.

This year, the theme for Maker Day was Mother Nature. The participating schools were Gajera Global School, Pal; Gajera Vidyabhavan, Katargam and Gajera Vidyabhavan, Sachin. A week-long series of workshops organised from 5^th October to 8^th October 2021, encouraged children to express their creativity through interactive projects, experiential learning and immersive, blended education. The events were open to learners from KG to std. 12, with KG to std. 5 participating online and std. 6 to std. 12 participating offline.

So far, Maker Day has received an overwhelming response through 3000 plus online participants and 4000 plus offline participants. Showcasing a host of nature-inspired projects such as apps that encoded elements from nature, hydro-powered energy models, poems and music crafted using upcycled, eco-friendly instruments, each tribute was a unique culmination of learners; exceptional skills and keen interest in dedicating human intelligence towards the betterment of the planet. Every project saw pro-active involvement from not only the learners but educators and parents as well. Several honoured guests and prominent judges were invited to offer their expertise and feedback to further enrich these bright, young minds.

Commemorating Smt. Sunita Chunibhai Gajera legacy as an inspiration, Maker Day is celebrated every year on the occasion of her birth anniversary. This year, the celebration ended with a grand closing ceremony on 10^th October 2021 at the Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium. The event saw participants being felicitated and recognised for winning projects in the presence of their families, educators, esteemed judges and board members. Several dignitaries from the field of education, as well as corporate development, were in attendance to enrich the significance of this important day.

Welcomed by the managing trustee, Gajera Trust, Shri Chunibhai Gajera, the political heads of state who graced the event were Shri Mukeshbhai Zinabhai Patel, Hon;ble Minister; Shri Vinodbhai Amarsinhbhai Moradiya, Hon;ble Minister; Smt. Hemaliben Bodhwala, Mayor, Surat City; Shri Dineshbhai Jodhani, Deputy Mayor, Surat City; Niranjanbhai Zanjhmera, BJP President, Surat City, V. D. Zalavadiya, MLA. Also, present were Dineshbhai Awasti, Madhukar Padvi, Rajeshbhai Nakrani, Dr. Anita Shah, Shri Sevantibhai Shah, Shri Veljibhai Sheta, Shri Sanjayji Saraugi, Shri Promodji Poddar, Shri Navinbhai Jain, Dr. Nirmal Choradiya and Illiasbhai Railwaywala - who felicitated winning learners with trophies and awarded winning educators with prizes for Gyanam. Felicitation at the hands of these dignitaries was highly motivating for the learners who were addressed with an inspiring note of thanks given by Ms. Kinjal C. Gajera.

Supporting 18,000 learners through holistic education, Gajera Trust aims to prepare each child for a brighter future. Through Maker Day, this was made possible by providing equal opportunities for creativity and learning to children from various backgrounds. A resounding success, Maker Day 2021 will be an inspirational blueprint for future endeavours at Gajera Trust along with Sunita Makerspace.