Dear Supporters,
The last quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program has been very eventful. With KDSP Learning Centre (KLC) up and running, we’ve also opened up another facility called the KDSP Development Centre (KDC). Whereas KLC is dedicated to Education and Skills’ Development, KDC looks after the entirety of Early Childhood Intervention and Healthcare services – alongside our operations teams. With this, we’ve been able to expand the scale of our services and cater to more families, effectively reducing our waitlist. This quarter KDSP also hosted a concert featuring renowned Pakistani singers Bilal and Hasan; this was the first ever concert hosted by a not-for-profit organization in Pakistan! All proceeds from the concert went towards empowering individuals with Down syndrome.
Below mentioned are more highlights from this quarter, from each service
Family Support:
KDSP organized two informational Family Support Group sessions addressing mental healthcare needs of individuals with Down syndrome and on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness. The sessions, delivered by experts, equipped parents and caregivers with the tools to improve the mental wellbeing of their loved ones with Down syndrome and address emergency situations where they may require CPR. The sessions benefited 50+ parents and caregivers.
Emotional support groups continued for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in KDSP preschool program by the Integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor Ms. Zahabia. Additionally, a support group was also launched for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in KDSP afterschool program. The support group was aimed at providing parents with a safe and open space to share their thoughts, challenges, and emotions, and then to find strength and motivation for this journey. 6 sessions have been conducted which have benefitted 21 parents and caregivers.
A fun-filled beach retreat was organized for those with Down syndrome and their families in November. The retreat provided a day long opportunity for 50 families to connect with one another and for individuals with Down syndrome to develop new friendships over exciting activities and delicious food.
Awareness:
During October, which is the international Down syndrome awareness month, KDSP's annual awareness campaign was titled Pyaar Baanto (Spread Love). The campaign aimed to spread the message of love, inclusion, and diversity. It not only focused on celebrating the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, but also aimed to raise awareness for their right to inclusion in the mainstream society. As part of this campaign, KDSP released a new anthem, "Pyaar Baanto". The anthem is a catchy tune about spreading love; it is produced by Hamza Production House, directed by Zeeshan and sung by acclaimed singers: Ali, Haroon, Natasha, Nafisa, and Bilal "Pyaar Baanto" was officially released on a number of streaming platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Patari, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music, Sound Cloud, and Tidal.
The Launch Event for KDSP's Anthem, "Pyaar Baanto" took place at the KDSP Learning Centre (KLC) on 1st October 2022. It was an eventful evening where the donors, celebrities, individuals with Down syndrome and artists from the "Pyaar Baanto" anthem came together to celebrate its release. The event was hosted by Khalid and a number of people from the media fraternity graced the event with their presence. Media partners for the event included a number of local publications and mainstream and digital media channels.
The anthem has been widely shared on social media by digital publications. These include Fuschia Magazine, Paperazzi Magazine, Dawn Images, Runway Pakistan, Mangobaaz, Billboard, People magazine, Weekly wit, Click to update, Everyday Crunch, News Bytes, Central bytes 1, Trendtab, Hourly Updates, Pakistandigitalnews, Elite Class Magazine, Pakistan Scoop, Cutacut, and Nichelifestyle. Instagram influencers and artists from the Pakistani media industry also helped us spread our message of love by sharing the anthem on their respective social media handles.KDSP Team and artists for "Pyaar Baanto" made multiple television and radio show appearances in the month of October. These included shows on the following channels/platforms.: FM 91, Bol TV, Hum News, Geo TV, Aaj News, and Fuschia Magazine.
KDSP and its new anthem was able to get media coverage through different digital and print media platforms as well. These include Jang Magazine and Dawn Images.
As a part of the “Pyaar Baanto” campaign, KDSP conducted awareness sessions and fundraising drives in schools all over Karachi. The sessions focused on raising awareness about Down syndrome in specific and the need for an inclusive society in general.
These session were conducted in the following schools:
A special screening for “Pyaar Baanto” was also held at the IVY School. KDSP’s ambassadors, Ali and Nafisa along with the cofounders, Ali and Farzeen visited the school for an engaging session with students and parents. The audience really enjoyed “Pyaar Baanto”; they sang along, and were accepting towards the message of inclusivity the anthem aimed to convey.
In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, KDSP hosted its first ever concert at Beach Luxury Hotel on 3rd December 2022. It was a fun night where the 90’s heart-throb Bilal and the new music sensation Hasan performed live! More than 2000 people came together to celebrate the ‘Night for Inclusion’. All proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting individuals with Down syndrome at KDSP.
On 5th October, Ali and Farzeen, co-founders of KDSP, inaugurated the "Wall of Inspiration" at Inspire Dental. KDSP was featured on Inspire Dental’s "Wall of Inspiration" for Down syndrome awareness month. Inspire dental also provided free dental consultations to kids with Down syndrome.
In October, Individuals with Down syndrome associated with KDSP were featured in the music video of of a sports anthem produced by a telecom company Jazz’s sports anthem ‘Khel Dil Mein Hai’ – ‘Sports is in our heart’ - for T20 Cricket World Cup 2022. The anthem is sung by country’s esteemed artists: Asim, Meesha, and Eva, produced by SeeMe Productions, and is directed by Hassan. This sports anthem not only showcases the passion and enthusiasm our nation has for cricket but also adds in the spirit of inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in the domain of sports.
In November, to celebrate Children’s Day, kids with Down syndrome visited Chop Chop Wok, a restaurant, and Sindbad, an amusement park for a fun day out. These visits were arranged by Chop Chop Wok in collaboration with Sindbad. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed themselves to the fullest! With this, Chop Chop Wok aimed to highlight, how fostering inclusion and tolerance can help support and improve the outcome of the lives of individuals with Down syndrome.
On 8th December 2022, Cosmo Group organized a grooming day at the KDSP Learning Center for kids and adults with Down syndrome. They set up a hairstyling and nail bar where everyone came in to get pampered for the day! It was surely a fun-filled event for all and girls and boys with Down syndrome were happy to get fancy nails and hairdos.
Skills Development:
On 17th September, KDSP in collaboration with Aga Khan University Hospital started a 6 weeks’ Swimming Training at AKU Sports and Rehabilitation Centre and 12 participants were facilitated
On 24th September, KDSP officially opened up its Crafters' Shop located in KDSP Learning Center.
On 1st October, KDSP set up its crafters' stall at Elan Bazaar. KDSP made sales of Rupees 27,000 and was able to spread awareness about individuals with Down syndrome. All the proceeds went back to the crafters who crafter these products
On 13th November, KDSP set up its crafters' stall at The 10th Crafters' Expo. It was a great opportunity for us to empower our crafters with Down syndrome, while also spreading awareness about KDSP and its work.
Between 9 to 11th December, KDSP put up its stall at Soul Fest, 2022 to raise awareness about the skills of KDSP crafters.
On 13th October, KDSP, in collaboration with Institute of Business Administration (IBA) started football and cricket trainings for individuals 8 years and above in which 30 participants were facilitated
On 16th November, Chop Chop Wok invited 10 Education for Life students for lunch alongside a dumpling cooking tutorial class at their Tipu Sultan Branch. It was a fun day with great food and company!
On 24th November, Spark Playcentre invited 20 participants from for fun day visit to their newly inaugurated early learning centre. Participants and their parents had fun and enjoyed to the fullest.
On 8th December, KDSP, in collaboration with Rangoonwala Community Center started a 3 months’ Jewelry Making Course; 10 individuals with Down syndrome benefitted.
On 15th December, 4 individuals with Down syndrome from KDSP took part in the Annual Sports Day at JS Academy for Deaf. They participated in races and tug of war.
On 16th December, 7 individuals with Down syndrome visited Arthouse by Sarwat Gillani for a Self Defense Class.
Early Childhood Intervention:
This year the tremendous growth of KDSP has had a domino effect on the turnover of parents reaching out. Consequently, the parents on the waitlist for ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) therapies increased. Parent Empowerment Program was initiated by KDSP as a mean to provide such parents with self-help guidance. The program started on the 17th of September and continues to be centered on the concerns of these waitlisted parents. Each interactive session is an informative guide to better equip the parents to deal with their concerns whilst they wait for their child’s turn to receive services. The program is not only informative in nature but is fueled from an intention to uplift the parents’ spirits and remind them that though they have been on the waitlist for a while, they are extremely valued members of KDSP.
At the start of September, the ECI department had the pleasure of collaborating with a well-known Physical Therapist Professor Annette, from Philadelphia with 24 years of experience. This collaboration was tailored so it could facilitate the needs of children with delayed results. Every week, Dr. Annette observes and assesses session of these kids with their respective therapists and parents on how better results could be achieved. Furthermore, Dr. Annette has also been helping therapists with further diagnosis and assessment of these children. Aside from the observatory work, the upcoming 4 weeks will consist of Dr. Annette hosting educative sessions on topics such as common comorbidities of children with Down syndrome.
This year, KDSP hosted a milestone event in November for all those brilliant individuals that had been discharged from two or more ECI therapies after achieving their milestones. The event had multiple stakeholders, including families of individuals with Down syndrome and KDSP’s donors. The afternoon celebrated not only these individuals and their hard work but also the persistence of their parents and therapists.
Ms. Anjum, an MS in Occupational Therapy and a licensed OTR/L from University of Illinios, Chicago, is a manager at the Essentia Therapy Solutions (North Carolina, USA). She conducted a training in November for therapists at KDSP. It was a great learning experience for the therapists.
Education:
On 20th, 21st and 26th October, A 3-day training session by Speech Therapist, Saamia was organized for the TAP facilitators to help them share and learn new strategies to facilitate the children with Down syndrome in their classes.
On 10th December, Tailored assistance program (TAP) team celebrated Parents’ Involvement Day and TAP Bazaar with TAP students. Students came with their parents and enjoyed many activities and games. They also set up a Bazaar to sell items to their parents made in TAP class to reinforce the concept of money.
Healthcare:
KDSP’s Behavior therapy team successfully observed over 48 children. The team identified a tool that could be used for further assessment of children with behavioral difficulties. Lastly, the team set the criteria a child needed to meet before getting enrolled in behavioral therapy. Following their contribution, this quarter KDSP got on board a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) making it possible for us to offer one on one behavior therapy sessions, classroom and therapy observations, and parent assessments.
The general pediatric clinic was created this quarter to cater to the numerous general health concerns of individuals with Down syndrome through onsite consultations, thorough clinical checkups and follow-up appointments:
Over 25 children benefitted from Aga Khan University Hospital Eye Camp in November by Dr. Irfan. Considering the persistence of eye issues in children with Down syndrome the camp benefitted all those that needed to have their concerns addressed by ophthalmologists.
5 children benefitted from the dental camp in October and 2 children were further referred to orthopedic specialists. Following this camp, KDSP signed an MoU with Alvi Dental which allowed our children to avail free consultations and special discounts on numerous services.
Some stories from the field:
- Gulzar, Father of Hifza
- Abdul, Father of Anabia
You can tell this was a rather eventful quarter for us at KDSP and this has only been possible by your support! Here’s hoping the next quarter will be better and busier!
Love,
Team KDSP
Dear Supporters,
The last quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program has brought new horizons of growth and a new facility, called the “KDSP Learning Centre” (KLC) - A second KASHTI* joining KDSP’s fleet. The theme of ‘Pyaar Baanto’ continues this quarter and is manifested into reality with KLC, a feat only possible with the love and support of you, our supporters. With this new facility, KDSP now has the infrastructure to expand the scale of their services and offer more programs. The facility hosts two of KDSP’s essential services – Education, and Enrichment & Skills Development.
Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:
Family Support:
Awareness:
Healthcare:
Enrichment and Skills Development:
Education:
Early Childhood Intervention:
Some stories from the field:
“The session was really nice, I had a lot of fun. The entire workshop had a really positive vibe. I personally enjoyed the painting session but the latter session was very insightful. Even though I myself am a sister to a brother with Down syndrome, I learnt so many new things today. I feel great” – Momina , sister of Yahya on the abstract art workshop for siblings
“Immediately after coming into this world Ali got extremely sick. Doctors’ visits soon became the norm. It was during one of these visits that we were told by the staff that Ali had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. As new parents, we were overcome with fear and anxiety. Ali kept getting sicker and soon caught pneumonia. To make matters worse, we were told there was also a hole in his heart and would probably need injections for the rest of his life. At the recommendation of one of the doctors, we found our way to KDSP and they provided us these injections Ali needed for the next 7 to 8 months absolutely free. We enrolled Ali in Occupational, Speech and Physical therapies and saw tremendous progress and Ali now walks independently and has developed a very active personality. I recommend KDSP to everyone who has a child or knows someone with Down syndrome. KDSP is the chance my child deserved.” – Mother of Ali
“My daughter started off with mainstream schooling however, after a while she had to leave as the school did not cater to my child’s needs. But then it was here at KDSP through which my daughter had a significant change in her development! Eman was home-schooled because of the educational programsand taught skills I would not have imagined my child would develop, if it wasn’t for the support we found at KDSP.” – Mother of Eman
“Wajiha was diagnosed with Down syndrome soon after her birth, but it took around six months for us to process it. Wajiha’s physical and behavioral development has been incredible from the beginning, however her intellectual development in regards to education was tough as I was not sure where and if my child could get education. However, when we came to KDSP those worries of mine went away as my daughter is doing so well in this regard due to her educational programs at KDSP.” - Mother of Wajiha
“Muhammad was a premature baby born in Lahore. Soon after his birth he was diagnosed with Down syndrome and not long after battled double pneumonia. Due to his compromised immune system he was kept in the Intensive Care Unit. As a mother, this period of my life was especially difficult. Muhammad’s diagnosis was one matter but societies faux sympathies were another matter altogether but neither me nor my husband lost hope. With the support of our close family and friends, and on the recommendation of Dr. Kirmani, we moved to Karachi and came to KDSP. Now at age 4, drastic improvement can be seen in Muhammad’s behavior. He benefits from the Occupational, Speech and Physical therapies at KDSP and is also enrolled in the Early Preschool experience Program there. My son now walks independently and love spending time with his peers and therapists. We believe that children with Down syndrome have incredible potential and advise new parents to seek early intervention for their children and invest in them while paying no heed to what society dictates, so that these children can have a far better shot at life than what the society affords them currently.”
All of these amazing feats of were possible only with your love and support! Here’s to a more inclusive society. Slowly but surely!
Love,
Team KDSP
* KASHTI : An acronymn for our services. The word originally means boat and is metaphorically used for the journey the family takes with us.
Links:
Dear Supporters,
This quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), we tried to build a more loving world, with celebrations, creating relationships and awareness featuring the World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March. KDSP celebrated the day with great enthusiasm by holding the Annual KDSP Carnival in March, an inclusive event with entertainment and activities for the community. The theme of this quarter was, “Pyaar Baanto” which means to spread love and all our activities were designed around this theme. Your support is a commitment to our shared goals and collective values of an inclusive society.
Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:
Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational and speech therapies):
Healthcare:
Education:
Awareness:
Family Support:
Some stories from the field:
“We eagerly wait for the KDSP Carnival just as kids wait for Eid (a religious festival). We are always excited for this day. This particular day we feel a different kind of happiness as we know that it is a place where my child is celebrated.” -Ambreen, mother of Ziyam.
“The family support sessions are very impressive and motivational. They surely are very helpful and informative for guardians of individuals with Down syndrome. I appreciate KDSP’s efforts in arranging these sessions and I look forward to attending more in the future.” Shahnaz, mother of Mahad.
“Fahad is 9 years old. He is very fond of sports and outdoor activities. Fahad and his parents’ efforts have been a source of motivation for both the facilitators and other students. His ability to learn quickly and put his heart and soul into all his tasks is the reason behind his progress in all aspects of literacy, numeracy and life skills.”- Sana, Tailored Assistance Program facilitator at KDSP.
“We were looking for homeschooling for Rameen and were unsuccessful. In the pandemic we were really afraid of sending her to a regular school. Remote Education and Learning for Youth (RELY) at KDSP is the best school for her. The way facilitators conduct the program, understand her and other students’ needs, it has helped all of us. The curriculum selected is also great. We really appreciate all the efforts that you and the entire team have put in!” – Mother of Rameen.
“Finding KDSP was like a ray of hope in the dark. My daughter was a weak child when she was born and her heart condition put her under a lot of stress. Despite residing in Shikarpur, I travelled to Karachi after registering at KDSP to get Umaima the best help possible. KDSP not only provided financial assistance for her angiography but now also support us regularly with her medicines which she must take until she is stable and healthy enough to undergo heart surgery. The team at KDSP has always been there to listen to our concerns and provide for my daughter. I do not have the words to thank them for their support.”- Mazhar, father of Umaima.
“Therapies have made a huge impact on my son’s life. Although it has been only 10 months since Omer is taking therapies at KDSP, there have been so many improvements. Before we were worried with his behaviors, he was usually distracted in his activities despite our efforts. His therapists at KDSP however are a god-send, he is much calmer now and even helps around the house. He helps set the dinner table and plays with his brother. Through speech therapy, Omer has also started stringing words and can form single sentences at a time. I am extremely grateful to KDSP and so proud of all that my son has achieved.”-Nazish, father of Omer.
Thank you for your love and donations, it creates a pathway for success for individuals with Down syndrome and helps us build an inclusive society.
Love,
Team KDSP
Links:
Dear Supporters,
This quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP) was full of celebrations and creating awareness featuring the Down Syndrome Awareness month in October. The team took upon new ideas and initiatives to instill feelings of happiness and excitement in individuals with Down syndrome and their families, as they returned towards routine living. As a result, remarkable performances and faces that beamed with happiness were observed.
Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:
Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational and speech therapies):
Healthcare:
Education:
Awareness:
Enrichment and Skills Development:
Family Support:
Some stories from the field:
Ahmed is a 3 year old child with Down syndrome at KDSP. During a speech therapy session, his therapist suspected he had trouble hearing and referred him for an audiology assessment. Ahmed was diagnosed with severe hearing loss of the middle ear. In August 2021, with your support, KDSP sponsored a pair of hearing aids so Ahmed could continue to avail his therapy sessions and achieve his developmental milestones. His therapists have since then reported an improvement in his progress.
Sabeeka’s mother expressed, “The KDSP Early Preschool is a “happy home” for my child. She is learning a lot here and her progress is exceptional. The attention and love she receives from her teachers and the staff are like no other. It is the best educational platform we could find, with fun learning activities. I am thankful with all my heart for all the love, care and focus given to my daughter. I thank the KDSP team for all their efforts.”
“Noticing some good changes after yoga; I feel more active, the pain and stiffness in my shoulders has decreased and I feel this freshness on my face. I am sure it will also help manage the stress us mothers face, as we continue to attend classes. I was aware of these benefits but did not realize them until after practical application. This is all thanks to KDSP and Dhanak, our instructor!” - Shabana, mother of Aijaz – participant of Yoga for Mothers
“Hadi was diagnosed with an unclosed hole in his heart, for which he underwent a successful surgery under the care of Dr. Babar at AKUH. Thanks to KDSP, Hadi is now living a healthy life and is able to energetically partake various activities” - shared mother of Hadi emotionally.
“Ayan loves attending Music and Movement and BollyX (Bollywood dance class) at KDSP. He enjoys it a lot and gets to do these activities with his sister, which has brought them closer together. KDSP has provided an excellent avenue for my son to do what he loves.” - expressed Maryam, mother of Ayan
Links:
Dear Supporters,
While many of our services started physically in the last quarter, KDSP gradually resumed all of its services physically this quarter while ensuring the implementation of strict SOPs and keeping the health and safety of our wonderful stars at top priority. Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:
Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational & speech therapies)
Healthcare
Skills Development
Family Support
Education
Awareness
Some stories from the field:
“The monthly grocery bags and cash transfers received through KDSP help us balance our expenses. We are grateful to God for making KDSP a channel to bridge the gaps in our day to day expenses. We are extremely satisfied with the service and are equally grateful to KDSP.” – shares Mother of Sami
“I have followed KDSP’s awareness initiatives for up to three years now and never before have I seen an organization that is raising awareness to create a more inclusive society for individuals with Down syndrome. My family also became more understanding of the condition and the developmental interventions Essa would require after they saw some TV shows KDSP was a part of. I, myself had the opportunity to attend an awareness session by KDSP which debunked a few myths surrounding Down syndrome I possessed.” – expresses Maryam, Mother of Essa
“The services that we received from AKUH were excellent. Dr. Salman and Dr. Babar were very understanding and listened to our concerns carefully. The staff at KDSP was extremely helpful in guiding us.”- shares Mother of Yourasha
“I have seen great improvement in Saeed - his walking and grip has improved a lot now that we are coming in physically for his physical therapy”- shares Mother of Saaed
“Through the carefully structured lesson plans and video tutorials, Kaneez learnt sign language and is now able to communicate her everyday needs to us, and even her feelings. The teachers invested their soul and heart into ensuring a safe, smooth and comfortable learning environment for all the children, even during COVID-19! The day she graduated from Early Preschool was a bittersweet moment for me as a parent; Kaneez is now ready to attend the mainstream school where she is enrolled, and will study alongside typically developing peers her age. I am confident that I will be able to provide a conducive learning environment to her growth in any school, through the information, tools and techniques KDSP empowered me with.” – expresses Ramooz, mother of Kaneez
“We enrolled Taha in multiple schools but none had the capacity to cater to him for long and teachers were unable to put in the effort. In his time at KDSP, he has been a part of many programs. The classes helped him increase his attention span as he is very focused on his tasks. Many of the products Taha has made in his classes have received much recognition via the KDSP Shop. The sales he makes via the shop contribute to his financial independence. Taha is also currently interning at an esteemed dental clinic in Karachi where his supervisors are most pleased with his hard work and determination. He is very excited about his work there and has great plans on how he will spend his stipend. KDSP has provided us with great support.” – expresses Hafsa, sister of Taha.
All of this has only been possible because of the constant support and love you have shown towards KDSP. With your continuous patronage, KDSP hopes to bring forward many more success stories and eventually a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted, included and celebrated!
Love,
Team KDSP
Links:
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