Iris Wilkinson, the founder of Nav-Jeevan Sanstha, turned 93 in April this year.

Twenty years ago she started this charitable organisation. At that time she was already 73 - an age where most people hang up their boots and retire. But not Iris! She felt that society needed an organisation like this and she went to work!

At first she got a small group of children together from the nearby slums. Because of a shortage of money, the midday meal would be cooked in her daughter Aneeta Patel's house and transported to the children's classroom. Iris would teach the children herself relying on her 36 year experience as an English school teacher. At first she got a small group of children together from the nearby slums. Because of a shortage of money, the midday meal would be cooked in her daughter Aneeta Patel's house and transported to the children's classroom. Iris would teach the children herself relying on her 36 year experience as an English school teacher.

Even today at this advanced age she manages to come to school a couple of times a week. Age has never kept her back.