A Dream for Generations

Over four decades ago, Saroj ji and Lalji Mehrotra were a young couple with bold dreams. They were drawn to philanthropy and a compelling vision for supporting young girls’ education in small communities in India. With Gandhiji’s principles of education to guide them, they developed educational institutions and created the Sar-La Education Trust to support their dream in perpetuity.

This clear vision for education propelled the establishment of four institutions and supported six additional schools. Since 1982, Sar-La Education Trust has integrated formal, vocational and technical education for children in underprivileged areas. The Trust also maintains a longstanding partnership with Karnavati Lions Education Foundation to further its mission.

Sar-La’s relationship with Lions started in 2000 when they worked together to create the Lalji Mehrotra Lions School in Ahmedabad, which opened in 2002. It was a dream come true for Sar-La and for Lions. As an ICSE-affiliated school, it offers comprehensive curricula and English instruction, preparing students for a variety of careers and opportunities.

Past International President Rohit C. Mehta, known as the Father of Indian Lionism, was exceptionally proud of this project. His son, District Governor Lion Anuj Mehta says, “My father had a dream of building a school for underprivileged students and his dream came true. Through the Sar-la Education Trust, we are integrating values into education. We want to differentiate ourselves by concentrating on culture, character-building and etiquette beyond the foundation of a strong education, and we see the benefit of that focus when parents return to celebrate their children’s success as adults. I am proud to be following in my father’s footsteps. I am proud our family is leaving a legacy of education for students.”

Sar-La Education Trust has been carefully passed down through three generations, inspiring dreams for many, including Lalji Mehrotra’s grandson, Chetan Mehrotra. As the Executive Trustee of the trust, Mehrotra says, “I am proud of our school’s legacy. The quality of education we provide is in demand and the school has proven itself through the growth of student enrollment over the years. Today, we have about 1,400 students, and we hear amazing success stories from those who have excelled in their careers.”

Recently the trust signed a Corporate Social Responsibility partnership of US$250,000 with Lions Clubs International Foundation India to support the construction of a pre-primary school at the Lalji Mehrotra Lions School to expand its service to even more students. When CSR National Chair for India, Past International Director, Pravin Chhajed considers the impact of Sar-La, he believes it has made an incredible difference and says, “Through this partnership, we have been able to deliver quality educational services at affordable rates for many years. As a result, we are now considered one of the top ten education facilities in the city and we are only continuing to expand.”