Improve Lives of 90 Special Needs Boys in India

He would spend most of the day cleaning toilets. The manager of the institute called him a "full-time scavenger." Somehow, in Sadam's mind, this was where he was supposed to be - relegated to the restrooms of the State-run Institute for Mentally Handicapped Children (IMHC).

Sadam was the kid that everyone else steered clear of. He would react violently at times, lashing out at the other children, hitting them when he was frustrated.

Sadam is one of the 90 boys at the Institute. But U&I's staff didn't see him as just another troublesome kid. They didn't choose the easy route of ignoring his cleaning stints or his hitting. Instead, they chose to persist in their efforts with Sadam. It was a gradual process, but eventually their concern and love won Sadam over.

"He has come to trust us," says Jay, U&I's Care manager at the Home. "He feels secure when he's with us." Through their faithful handling of Sadam's outbursts, through positive reinforcement, and through activities that keep him engaged, U&I's Care team has seen Sadam story do a 180.

"Sadam is now one of our fastest learners," says Jay, speaking of Sadam's involvement in all the vocational training activities at the Home.

Whether it's jute mat making or painting lamps, Sadam learns new skills quickly. Today, he doesn't feel the need to hide in the bathrooms.

U&I's team took the time to understand Sadam. They knew that he needed structure. That he needed new activities to keep him engaged. That he needed love. And when they offered Sadam those things, his story saw a dramatic shift.

Instead of hitting the other kids, Sadam now feeds meals to those children who are unable to feed themselves. He is quick to greet visitors. He is eager to keep learning. He is an example that proves that nobody's story is written in stone. Definitely not Sadam's. 

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