About AFJS Charitable Trust: Child Education NGO in Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Empowering Communities. Educating Futures.
Born out of lived experience in Bhavnagar: two friends who never forgot where they came from.
Two boys from Bhavnagar.
One shared dream.
John Dsouza and Varun Gonsalves grew up together on the streets of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, a city full of warmth, culture, and community, but also one where poverty was never far from sight. They watched friends drop out of school to work in their families' shops. They saw girls pulled out of classrooms before they could reach their potential. They shared meals with families who couldn't always afford them.
These were not statistics to them. They were neighbours, classmates, and childhood companions. And those memories never left.
Years later, their paths diverged in geography but never in spirit. John remained in Bhavnagar, deeply embedded in the community, nurturing his conviction that education was the most powerful tool for breaking cycles of poverty. Varun built his life in Germany, but carried Bhavnagar in his heart and with it, the responsibility to give back to the place that shaped him.
In 2025, what had long been a shared dream became a reality. Together, they founded AFJS Charitable Trust: All For Joyful Smiles, a charitable trust registered under the Public Trust Act 1950, dedicated to providing education, nutrition, and holistic support to underprivileged children in Gujarat.
The name says it all: All For Joyful Smiles. Because every child deserves to smile. Every child deserves to learn. And these two childhood friends from Bhavnagar are going to make sure as many children as possible get that chance.
Meet the Founders
John Dsouza
Founder & Secretary, AFJS Trust
Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India
John Dsouza is the heart and soul of AFJS Trust. Born and raised in Bhavnagar, he never distanced himself from the realities of underprivileged life that surrounded him growing up. That closeness to community became his compass.
As the trust's secretary and the brainchild behind its founding, John drives the day-to-day operations — from identifying children in need to building relationships with schools, volunteers, and local stakeholders. He oversees all four programs: Child Education, Girl Empowerment, Food & Nutrition, and Family Welfare.
“I grew up watching children drop out of school not because they didn't want to learn, but because no one could afford to let them stay. That's the problem we're solving, one child at a time.”
Varun Gonsalves
Co-Founder & International Support
Germany (originally Bhavnagar, Gujarat)
Varun Gonsalves grew up alongside John in the lanes of Bhavnagar. They shared classrooms, cricket games, and the unspoken awareness of how differently life could unfold depending on which family you were born into.
Today, Varun is based in Germany, but Bhavnagar and the mission of AFJS Trust remain central to who he is. He plays a critical role in supporting the trust internationally: helping raise funds, building awareness among the Indian diaspora in Europe, and ensuring the trust has the resources to scale its impact.
“Distance doesn't change where you're from. What John is doing in Bhavnagar is something I'm deeply proud to support. These are our children too. Children who look like us, who grew up in the same streets we did.”
“We didn't come from privilege. We came from Bhavnagar. And that's exactly why we started this trust. We know what it means to see potential wasted simply because of circumstance. Every child we support is a child we remember from our own neighbourhood.”
John Dsouza & Varun Gonsalves, Co-Founders
Our Mission
To provide education, nutrition, learning materials, and holistic support to underprivileged children in Gujarat, particularly in Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad, breaking the cycle of poverty through the transformative power of education.
Our Vision
Communities where education breaks the cycle of poverty and creates generations of empowered, joyful families, where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their background.
Our Four Programs
Child Education
After-school support, mentorship, and scholarship at St. Xavier's Primary School, Bhavnagar.
Girl Empowerment
Confidence-building, mentorship, and educational scholarships specifically for girls.
Food & Nutrition
Regular nutrition drives ensuring children have access to wholesome, nutritious meals.
Family Welfare
Holistic family support enabling parents to keep their children in school.
Registration & Legal Details
Darpan Registration
GJ/2025/0719739
PAN Number
AALTA7481L
Trust Registration
F/3788/Bhavnagar
Act
Public Trust Act 1950
Primary Hub
St. Xavier's Primary School, Devbagh, Bhavnagar
Also Serving
Ahmedabad, Gujarat