About us
jusUNMUTE is not just a newspaper. It is a platform where young voices are encouraged to read, think, question, create, and express themselves freely.
Founded by renowned journalist Lajwanti D’Souza along with Vivek Mendonsa of Lawrence & Mayo, the newspaper originally began as goUNMUTE with a simple — and slightly rebellious — idea: to help children move beyond screens and reconnect with the joy of reading and awareness.
But very quickly, children began doing far more than just reading. They started sending poems, opinions, artwork, ideas, and letters. They began asking questions, discussing current events, and expressing themselves with confidence.
As the platform evolved, so did its identity. The “go” was eventually dropped and goUNMUTE became simply jusUNMUTE — a name that felt more natural, expressive, and connected to today’s young generation.
The mission of jusUNMUTE is simple:
To raise children and young adults who are informed, aware, emotionally confident, creative, compassionate, and unafraid to think independently.
Inside classrooms and homes, the newspaper becomes more than reading material. It becomes a conversation starter, a creativity platform, and a bridge between textbooks and the real world.
While awareness and understanding remain central to the newspaper, jusUNMUTE also believes childhood should stay joyful. That is why every edition balances news with humour, storytelling, puzzles, contests, creativity, and moments that make children smile while they learn.
After supporting the venture during its foundational years, Vivek Mendonsa stepped away from the initiative. Today, jusUNMUTE is independently owned and wholly run by Lajwanti D’Souza, while always remaining grateful for Vivek’s contribution in helping shape its early journey.
At its heart, jusUNMUTE believes one thing:
Give young people the right platform, and they will not stay silent — they will think, question, create, and lead.
goUNMUTE is the brainchild of two powerhouse professionals — Lajwanti D’Souza and Dr. Vivek Mendonsa.
She is the heart behind goUNMUTE — curating every page with passion, purpose and a deep love for storytelling. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to get children reading, thinking and dreaming again.
Dr. Vivek Mendonsa, a marketing visionary, is the Marketing Director at Lawrence & Mayo and Group Director – Marketing at LYNX – Lawrence & Mayo. With a passion for value-based innovation, he champions cutting-edge products and services across optics, air, water, earth and life sciences. A sought-after motivational speaker, Dr. Mendonsa continues to inspire entrepreneurs and young changemakers with his insight and energy.
Our Vision
In a world where screens dictate attention spans and instant gratification overshadows deep learning, the joy of reading is fading. Books lie untouched, newspapers remain unread, and knowledge once sought with curiosity is now often scrolled past in fleeting seconds. Lajwanti D’Souza and Dr. Vivek Mendonsa refuse to let the next generation grow up disconnected from the power of words, critical thinking, and the ability to form independent perspectives.
Their brainchild, goUNMUTE, is more than just a newspaper for childrenite’s a movement. A call to rediscover the thrill of turning pages, the magic of well-crafted stories, and the excitement of knowing what’s happening in the world beyond their screens. It’s an initiative designed to make young minds fall in love with reading again, not as a chore, but as an adventure one that fuels their imagination, broadens their horizons, and prepares them to engage with the complexities of the future.
At its core, goUNMUTE is about empowerment. It’s about arming children with knowledge that isn’t just absorbed but understood, analyzed, and questioned. It’s about nurturing curiosity and encouraging them to see beyond headlines, to think, to debate, and to develop perspectives of their own. Because true leadership isn’t just about knowing’s about understanding, questioning, and innovating.
With goUNMUTE, Lajwanti and Vivek aspire to create not just readers, but thinkers. Not just informed individuals, but visionaries who will shape the world with clarity, confidence, and a hunger for truth.
Lajwanti, a seasoned journalist and author, has held senior editorial positions at leading publications such as The Times of India, Indian Express, DNA, Pagalguy.com, and Mid-day, where she served as Editor. She has also ventured into the literary world with a unique book on a cat, offering a rare and compelling narrative.