Provide therapy to 50 disabled children in India

“Namaste Didi!”, two words that always melted my heart when little Prince greeted me each morning. This was followed by smiles and waves from Harshit before going up to meet his friends. The ever talkative Aspak, the super enthusiastic Naitik, Sneha the diva and Rishabh the tiny potato… These are the kids, among others, who made me want to be a regular volunteer at SAMADHAN.

To be around these children is like hanging out with a bunch of fun rebels who are free-spirited as well as extremely loving and caring. The staff at SAMADHAN are the most dedicated bunch of people I’ve come across. A lot of hard work, time and efforts are put in by each of the staff members, at all levels, with an intention of making a positive difference in the lives of these children. The smiles and progress of these kids is all they care about. They celebrate even the tiniest progress of every child who joins the SAMADHAN family.

As a volunteer, I can vouch that this is a place where you are given the freedom to get creative and, in the process, you can learn a lot from them. Be it special education, therapy training, creative movement sessions or even administration, the experience gained in SAMADHAN is immense and the best. Practical, hands-on experience – it cannot get better than this. I learnt a lot from the staff as well as the children and yes, I evolved as a person in the process.

I’ve been a volunteer for SAMADHAN for more than three years now, helping them out in different ways. Whenever I get the opportunity, am always excited to go the centre to meet these darlings. If you are looking for an organization which will not only give you a rich work experience but is also true to its cause, then SAMADHAN is the place to be. You will not only help in transforming the lives of these children but also see a transformation in yourself, counting every little thing as a blessing.

Links:

• Organization's official website

It was a celebration of Independence Day at SAMADHAN, the children came all dressed up as freedom fighters and national leaders. Little Gaurav, came dressed in Kurta and decorated vest and posed happily for the photograph. This year, he will be greatly missed by us as Gaurav is NO MORE……Last week, he was ill for two days and passed away at his home in Tigri.

When volunteers from Samadhan went door to door, looking out for children in need for early intervention and special education, Gaurav’s parents were thrilled at the possibility of sending their son to school. At three years of age, his parents did not know what afflicted their child, and so when help came knocking at their door, they were eager, for a better and more hopeful future.

After three years of therapy at SAMADHAN, Gaurav showed a remarkable progress. He was formally diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy- a neurological condition that primarily affects movement; usually developed during pregnancy due to factors that are not always preventable. Up until joining SAMADHAN in 2016, he barely moved, spent the majority of the day laying down and idly gazing at the walls. He showed no signs of being able to move, and was carried around on his caregiver’s laps. He would show extreme distress when left by himself- subsequently becoming a difficult time for his parents, who would need to be by him all the time. Dietary advice to improve his food intake, referrals to hospitals for lab tests and medicines were given by the pediatrician.

From a listless life, Gaurav’s improvement in his development was celebrated by the caregiver and medical team at SAMADHAN “He can move his limbs now!” says his mother, as she adoringly watches Gaurav show signs of engaging in his physio-therapy. He had become taller, started to be capable of being left alone, beckoned to his mother when he wanted something, felt soothed when he listened to the latest Bollywood beats, smiled as he rode the bouncing auto-rickshaws speeding across Dakshinpuri, savored the smell and taste of biscuits, and so on.

Gaurav travelled a long and difficult road. In his short lifetime, he made progress every single day. Like him, there are many other Gauravs in SAMADHAN who are able to unlock their potentials with the services that are rendered to them. We hope that through your continued support, these little children will be able to achieve their milestones and bring cheer to their families.

For the beautiful soul that you were, Gaurav you will be greatly missed.

Links:

• SAMADHAN's Official Website