QualityEducation Matters to the Most Vulnerable

Aaina was honored to receive an award from Global Giving UK of 15000 GBP for Community Development project in December 2016. About1200 GBP was utilized towards logistics of organizing We Care Film Fest 6^th edition.  Aaina organized We Care Film Fest 6^th edition on January 16 and 17. We Care is a traveling festival to create awareness about disability issues through the medium of films and to foster integration in society by spreading the message of ability. We Care film fest gives fillip to the Rights Based Approach where Persons with Disability are considered Persons first.  We Care aims to remove the myths, misconceptions, prejudices and stereotypes about disability among society through the medium of films.

The festival was attended by 651 people in total from which 127 children were from special schools and 78 from colleges. Other audience and guests included authorities from CSOs, Government, Film World and Corporate.  The festival began with a seminar on “Making Rights Real” keeping different aspects of People with Disability in focus where audience had an opportunity to interact with the resource people. Other highlights of the event were showcasing national and international award winning movies on disability, speeches by guests from different back grounds and of course the short film competition inviting entries from local and other artists on the issues of disability. Aaina received 9 short films for competition. All the films though on the issues of disability conveyed positivity, hope and were inspirational. A very special guest graced the occasion. He himself is quadriplegic but nothing stopped him from achieving his goals. He was featured in the book We Can,  100 inspirational stories of differently abled and was awarded by NALCO for being the first ever quadriplegic  to act in a cine world.  His movie “Two desires and a Dream” will be relased in Janaury end. While addressing the audience he conveyed that though he along with many other people with disability has achieved a lot in life, people with disability are still seen with pity by many, which really hurts. Responding to his address, the President of Aaina pledged, requesting the audience to delink pity from disability and see the qualities and skills first.   

The youth, people and children with disability were rejoiced being part of the festival and thrilled to share the space with celebrities. It was an opportunity for them to come out of their restricted boundaries and get exposed to the world of diversity. In the Feed Back Flex there were messages like ”include people with disability for sustainable development”, “People with Disability have same rights. Support them and provide equal opportunity”. We are truly thankful to Global Giving and donors  for your inavuable support and helping us organize such inclusive events. We are assured that our final phase of the journey towards inclusive education will also be accompanied by you. Our next venture is to identify deaf blind children and provide home based needs assessment training for Cerebral Palsy. Don’t hesitate to spread the word . Thanks again. We look forward for your response. 

This Christmas help 25 deafblind children develop sensory skills and live a better life

Last quarter Aaina has had a wonderful experience of being a part of special online fundraising for Indian NGOs during Joy of Giving Week (Oct 2 to Oct 8) in partnership with Global Giving and Impact Guru. We were able to raise $2600 from the campaign.  Also,  from Giving Tuesday $200 were raised.  The funds raised from Joy of Giving Week were targeted to meet the needs of 200 most vulnerable children including children with Cerebral Palsy and Autistic children in getting quality education. Funds have been dedicated to provide adaptive learning materials and provide training to special educators. Thank You Global Giving and Impact Guru for providing this platform.

Funds from Giving Tuesday (already raised) and year end campaign(currently running!) are dedicated to help deafblind children under Aaina’s project.  Deafblind is a separate category of disability requiring special attention. Children with particular disability in society have been refrained from participation in social, educational and economic systems. Their condition puts them in severe isolation. Aaina has taken an initiative to promote inclusion of deaf blind children and children with multiple sensory disabilities through extending support in education mainstreaming by collaborating with SSA-OPEPA and also through explicit programmed planning for the children.

It has not been easy at all first to identify the children in the remotest areas and then convincing parents of the children, mosty uneducated  that their deafblind  children are capable of much more if efforts are put in. Nonetheless, our dedicated staff Ms. Jasinta Tirkey, special educator and Ms. Gayatri Bisoi, community organizer have been on their toes to visit community every single day to provide therapy to the identifies children and transfer skills to their care givers and mothers.  Other activities include physiotherapy through home visits, teaching children daily living skills such as brushing teeth, taking bath, hand washing etc., and through  resource centers further develop their motor and communication skills. Two resource centers have opened where children are provided therapy.  Slowly but steadily, there has been a big progress in the lives of the children and attitudes of their caregivers and community. From the state of hopelessness by the parents to a state of willingness to get their children enrolled in school has been seen in few cases.

Arpita, a 6 year old girl with visual and hearing impairment  and locomotors disability could not get up from her seat in the beginning now walks confidently holding a wall.  Her mother had never put in the dedicated efforts to improve her skills. But seeing the progress she is now excited and willing to get Arpita get enrolled in school.

Aaina is working with 25 such children. For its resource centers, Aaina needs  Tactile materials, aids and appliances, special chairs for children with Cerebral Palsy are few of the major requirements to develop the skills of the children more effectively. Funds are also needed to provide transportation cost to visit resource center by children and the parent

We request you to whole heartedly support the cause and make a generous donation for the Year End Campaign going on and closing on Dec 31!!!. There cannot be a more meaningful Gift this Christmas!

 We need minimum $3000 or 2000 Pounds to be eligible for Bonus Awards!!!. SO PLEASE DONATE NOW and Make it Happen!!!

Spread the message among your friends. too.Thank you So Much in Advance!!!

Links:

• An expo visit for deafblind children