About Aai

Full Name of the Organization:

Aai Day Care Sanstha – Residential vocational training centre for Differently Abled Children (Mentally Challenged), Ramwadi, Pen, Dist. Raigad.

Founder

Mrs. Swati Mahendra Mohite

We Are In A Mission

To Help The Helpless

Aai Day Care Sanstha, Pen – District Raigad

Empowering Special Children with Education, Care & Dignity

Aai Day Care Institute is a pioneering organization dedicated to providing school education and vocational training to intellectual disabled childrens located in Pen, District Raigad. The institute strives to help every special child discover their abilities and integrate confidently into mainstream society.
Founded with love and determination, Aai Day Care began as a small initiative in the home of the Mohite family. Inspired by their daughter Miss Chaitali, who lives with cerebral palsy, Mrs. Mohite opened her doors to other special children in the community. What began as a modest day care center soon grew into a full-fledged institution—thanks to the trust, compassion, and collective support of kind-hearted individuals and organizations.

Our Journey

From a Small Dream to a Beacon of Hope

Every great story begins with a dream. Ours began in a small village — a place where the concept of special education was barely known.

Children with special needs were often misunderstood, their families left feeling helpless and alone. And then, amidst that silence, a spark of hope was born — Aai Day Care Sanstha.

Driven by compassion and the belief that every child deserves a chance, we opened our doors with love, courage, and faith.

“Every step we took was powered by the smiles of our children and the strength of our belief in them.”

Growing Through Challenges

The journey was never easy. We faced limited space, financial constraints, and social stigma — but never lost hope.
The Rotary Club of Pen Orion became our first strong supporter, sponsoring the vocational workshop for an entire year. With the valuable legal guidance of CA & Rotarian Mr. Sunil Dev, Aai Day Care Institute was formally registered in 2010 as a trust under the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Alibag, and the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra.
Each milestone brought us one step closer to our vision of inclusion and dignity for every child.

Finding a Place to Belong

As our family grew, we moved from one rented place to another — adapting, learning, and building dreams along the way.
Then came a turning point. During our seventh relocation, Mr. Vaman Mirawankar extended his hand with unmatched generosity, offering his land and house at Lokmanya Housing Society, completely free of rent or deposit.
That selfless act gave us what we needed most — stability, space, and belonging.

Building a Dream Together and Turning Vision into Reality

Soon, another blessing followed. Adv. Savita Phadke and Mrs. Usha Phadke donated a 5,000 sq. ft. plot to the Sanstha — a priceless gift that became the foundation of our future.
The dream of creating a residential facility for 40 special children soon followed. With incredible commitment, Mr. Raju Pichika, owner of Rameshwar Construction, took on the responsibility of constructing a Ground + Three-storey hostel, pledging to complete it “whether funds were available or not.”
With overwhelming support from donors, well-wishers, and corporate partners, a modern four-storey building rose proudly — a true symbol of love, inclusion, and community spirit.

“Brick by brick, hand in hand — we built not just walls, but dreams.”

“Today, Aai Day Care Sanstha stands tall in Pen — not just as a center, but as a beacon of hope, dignity, and empowerment, nurturing every intellectually challenged child to become self-reliant and confident in their own light.”
What began as a humble dream has become a movement — touching lives, transforming families, and proving that with love and unity, every child can shine.

Transport

In the early days, private jeeps were used to bring students to school from surrounding villages. In 2013, JSW Company, Dolvi, generously donated a school bus, which made daily commuting safer and more convenient for many children. However, due to the narrow lanes in several parts of Pen, the larger bus could not reach every student’s home. Understanding this challenge, Dr. Madhav Desai, President of Navjeevan Global Health Center, thoughtfully donated a school van to ensure that no child was left behind.

As the years passed, the original bus—now over 12 years old—began showing signs of wear. Responding to the institute’s growing transportation needs, Sandoz Pvt. Ltd. came forward with a generous donation of a new 41-seater school bus, further strengthening Aai Day Care Institute’s mission to provide safe and reliable transportation for all its students.

Education & Training

At Aai Day Care Institute, every child’s journey begins with understanding, care, and a structured plan for growth. The institute follows a systematic and inclusive approach for all newly admitted students.

Information about each child is first collected from parents and carefully documented. Every student is then medically certified by the District Government Hospital, after which the admission is confirmed with trustee approval. To ensure accurate understanding of each child’s abilities and needs, psychological assessments are conducted by experts from the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped.

Special educators also conduct home visits, gathering detailed insights into the child’s living conditions, financial background, and family environment. Based on this information, a customized curriculum is designed to match the child’s unique potential and pace of learning. After the assessment process, students are placed in the appropriate class according to their IQ level and age, ensuring personalized and effective development.

Helping Each Other Can Make World Better

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Recognizing the Need

After conducting a detailed survey of villages around Pen City, we discovered that many intellectually disabled children in the area lacked access to the special education and care they need to become self-reliant and confident.

Our Beginning

To fulfil the dreams of these special children, a group of dedicated well-wishers came together and established Aai Day Care Sanstha in Pen on June 15, 2010 with a mission to create a safe and nurturing space for children with intellectual disabilities.

Challenges We Face

Our journey has been determined yet challenging, with limited funds affecting our ability to maintain facilities, hire staff, and reach more intellectually disabled children.

AAI’s Essence

In Marathi, "Aai" means mother — a word that embodies love, care, and sacrifice. Just like a mother, Aai Day Care Sanstha is a place where every child is cherished, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Our New Home

Thanks to our supporters, we have a G+3 hostel now used as a school. However, it limits space and facilities for younger children. We urgently need a dedicated school building to offer proper education, therapy, and growth opportunities for every child.

Workshops & Events

We regularly organize:
• Skill development workshops
• Community awareness events
• Annual award functions
These initiatives help our children build confidence, showcase their talents, and feel included in society.

Donation

Your generous contribution helps us provide special education,
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Volunteers

Your time, care, and skills can bring joy and learning to every little heart
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Events

From workshops to award functions, our events celebrate the talents and progress of our children.
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Be a Part of Their Journey

Your support can light the path to independence for a special child.

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