Improve Lives of 90 Special Needs Boys in India

Dear Partner and Friend

The Institute for Mentally Handicapped Children (IMHC) currently houses 82 boys with Special Needs who have been abandoned by their families or lost and brought to the Institute. Working with the boys in this State run Home has been challenging as well as rewarding and we are constantly learning as much as we are teaching. 

Thank you so much for supporting our work at the Institute and believing in the work we do for these wonderful children.

Here are some of the main highlights and challenges:

• Health & Hygiene - The assistant carers ensure that all the All the boys batheveryday and the 13 profoundly challenged boys are given a bath. Hygiene standards have improved greatly among these boys in the past few months. They are also toilet trained and cleaned regularly during the day to maintain hygienic conditions at all times. The boys are now cleaner and with fresh clothes throughout the day.
• Therapy & Activities - Over the past few months the boys with mild mental disabilities have been taught to use scissors and paper and learn to cut and design various items. The boys have made paper glasses, jewellery with clay and beads.
• Physiotherapy - The physiotherapist has been working with 12 boys with cerebral palsy and other equilibrium problems. One session each of manual exercises and instrumental exercises are conducted for all the boys every day.
• Volunteering at the Institute - Every Sunday about 40 volunteers visit the Institute and engage the boys in different activities. They follow a special needs curriculum designed for the different levels of mental retardation. Volunteers have been undergoing training from an expert from Holland to help improve their understanding and interaction with the boys.
• Summer Camp at the Institute - Summer Camp at the Home consists of 2 fun-filled days organised and hosted by around 40 volunteers. This year it was complete with carnival games, funky glasses and a movie! 

ZUBAIR'S STORY

One of the boys at the Institute is a little one called Zubair. Zubair has been at the Institute for many years now and has slowly moved from being completely unresponsive to smiling and making sounds at you when you interact with him. Zubair is usually known for eating everything he can lay his hands on. But he also known as the the little kid with large innocent eyes and a cute smile. Over the past few months, Zubbu, as he is affectionately known, has improved a great deal in terms of his attention span. He is able to hold toys and observe them for a longer time. He also tries to have conversations through sounds and responds to people who talk to him. One of his favourite words that always brings a smile on his face is “bouncing castle”. He stares with a big smile on his face that eventually becomes exuberant laughter while he shakes with joy.

Both staff and volunteers have been instrumental in bringing about the change in Zubair. Just giving these boys attention and showing affection can come a long way. They learn to respond so much more when they are constantly cared for. There is no greater joy than seeing these boys grow and be happy.