Support excluded kids with disabilities in India

 Bhalobasa- 'Loving Home' closed its doors during the coronavirus lockdown in West Bengal, but the team continued to support the families that usually form the community.

Mina, who leads the Project, shares how the past three months have been for them and the adaptations they have made, to ensure children continue to thrive as much as possible during this challenging time.

Emergency Food Distribution 

In May, we visited children in their homes. While visiting the homes of those children who could not turn up to collect the food to provide the food items, we had the opportunity to witness their condition. The children who needed it were provided with medicines and therapy. We also talked to the parents at length about their children's’ fragile health and gave valuable advice to help support the parents during this intense family time.  Therefore the food distribution provided an additional value in helping us assess the condition of the children and take necessary measures of support for those who needed it.

With the aid of Karuna, we distributed parcels consisting of 1kg puffed rice, 1kgs sugar, 1 kg flattened rice,1 kg.chhatu (flour made of barely), 1 packet biscuit, 1 kg suji (semolina) and one 1 soap to each of 58 families of our children.

A physiotherapist, project manager and one of the special educators go to the houses of those children who are unable to come to daycare. They provide the therapies to these children in their houses, as mentioned above. Two home visits for each child are done per week to support the children and their families. They are being given physiotherapy and other therapies due to the fragile health condition. Many of the children and their families were facing starvation and their health was severely affected, but thanks to our food distribution and home visits they are surviving these terrible challenges.

Home Visits and Re-Opening the Daycare Centre with Limited Capacity

Additional home visits were conducted from 2nd June as most of the children could not attend our daycare centre, Bhalobasa. Even now there are no trains running and buses are also very irregular.  However, we were determined to open the centre in whatever way we could as soon as possible. Now, the centre is being run every day from morning till afternoon. Daycare is open for those children who are able to come to the daycare centre and they are getting therapy. 

Staff and children wear protective equipment and every precaution is taken. For parents and children coming back to the Bhalobasha centre brings some joy in their lives.

Thank you for supporting some of the most marginalised and vulnerable children in this community. Your support ensures these children don't get left behind in times of crisis and that their families are supported to meet their needs; even more so in these particular times of struggle.