Hats Off! 
(A Student-led Initiated by Ira Bakshi)

Ten-year-old Ira of NMAJS PYP Class 5B began Hats Off at the age of eight after realising that she could not stand in the sun for even ten minutes without a cap, while thousands of Mumbai’s labourers, street vendors, and construction workers spent long hours working under the harsh heat each day, without one.

Moved by this thought, she started collecting gently used caps and distributing them free of cost every Labour Day, May 1st, as a gesture of care, gratitude, and respect for the people whose hard work keeps the city moving. The name Hats Off carried a double meaning — offering a cap to someone in need, while also saluting the workers who build and serve the city.

In 2025, the initiative reached 304 workers, and for Labour Day 2026, over 1,300 caps have already been collected through the support of family, friends, and the wider community.

This thoughtful act of service reflected how one child’s empathy could inspire collective action. It served as a reminder that community service does not always begin with grand gestures; sometimes it begins with noticing a need, caring enough to act, and encouraging others to join in making a difference.

Hats Off to the workers of Mumbai and Hats Off to the spirit of giving.