BEING VOLUNTEER
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why to be a volunteer??? Most of the people do have reasons for volunteering the services. Reasons vary from internal satisfaction, utilizing the leisure time for a cause, social appreciation or some times even for certificates. Few among of us feel since, we are social animal and live in society; we do share a responsibility towards betterment of community. However, even though there are many reasons behind it but, it demands for other things also.
Posted byNeeti at 10:45 PM 2 comments
Labels: knowledge sharing
The Abilities Mela 2008, was arranged in Khairatabad on 25, 26,
The Abilities mela focused in providing the common platform for the various NGO’s and groups working on the disability issues and rehabilitation in terms of inclusive education, therapy, aids and appliances, and vocational training for achieving the social integration. Abilities mela had stalls from different NGO’s and centres who displayed the skills and crafts of PWD’s.
This Abilities Mela worked as a single window of information for training and vocational opportunities. It helped in Marketing and publicity of the products designed and developed by PWD’s to enable better quality of life for them by providing access to markets and hence earning the livelihoods.
Various stalls were arranged where the NGO’s like Sai Teja Foundation, THPI, DIMH, leprosy rehabilitation centers etc had displayed the crafts of their vocational centre and their work in the filed of disability.they also showcased the products and services available for the special need people. It did not only target to help people to get jobs but also providing information for the parents and the siblings of a handicapped child by demonstrating the options available for the child. It also provided the opportunities for learning and sharing the new information that might help them in rehabilitation.
Various companies like Genpact, Oracle etc, and their volunteers were helping the handicapped people to design their resume and made a CV pool so that, later they can conduct the interviews for the placement. Satyam foundation had conducted a seminar for handicapped people to teach them the soft skills and taught them how to prepare for the interviews. NIMH and Sarv siksha abhiyaan stalls also demonstrated the publications for the early detection, management and training at home of the disabilities .
Few of the disabled people filled the mela with fun by demonstrating their cultural events and skills like painting etc.
As a part of Sakshum, 4 team members went there and helped the disabled to prepare CV and share the ideas with couple of NGO’s. It was an appreciable effort from the organiser who helped so many differently abled persons starting from the various therapy centers, various opportunities for the education and vocational training and of course their placement according to their abilities in corporate sectors.
Posted byNeeti at 10:15 PM 0 comments
ABILITIES MELA
Thursday, April 24, 2008
THE ABILITIES MELA
HYDERABAD 2008
(PROMOTING INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES)
DATED 25, 26, 27 April
Venue:
The institution of Engineers
Visvesvaraya Bhawan
Khairatabad
Ø A platform where several organisations and networks demonstrate skills, products and crafts of Person with Disabilities
Ø Great fun to appreciate the cultural talents of PWD’s (person with disabilities) at this unique mela
Ø Excellent opportunities to learn and share new information and advocacy
Pooja. Purushothaman 09866107826
Email : lsnfoundation@gmail.com
Ø Provide a common platform to NGO’s and networks working on disability issues to come together to lobby for the inclusive society
Ø Provide a single window of information and opportunities for training and livelihoods of the disabled
Ø Marketing products created by the PWD’s to enable better quality of life for them by providing access to markets, livelihoods and mobility
Ø Sensitizing the companies, students, CSO’s and the public on disability issues and enable cooperation to promote inclusion at all levels
Ø Matching skills to opportunities through the website and disabled CV bank that employers can access
Dr Neeti Sharma
Posted byNeeti at 2:39 PM 0 comments
MID DAY MEAL
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sensex is waving up and down, touching the untouched heights; Economists are showing progress in GDP and Nation economy. But for an average man or people BPL (below poverty line), these terms do not have much significance. For them the important is, meals thrice a day, children getting education in reputed schools, clothes to wear and they dream of a better life for their children. However no matter how much Nation’s economy raise still, unfortunately, the people below poverty line and middle class never grows. As said the future of any country is seen in its children. The latest Human Development report says that 47% children are underweight. Over 34% of population live on less than 40 Rs a day. In this condition for the children mid day meal (MDM) is necessity and could prove fruitful for healthier children. But unfortunately either because of political reasons or physical reasons MDM has always some loopholes. Many a times the plan had been changed from providing the full lunch to packed lunch to enhance and monitor the quality. But still people prefer to have hot meal than packed things. So few people come with the magic remedy for preventing the corruption to enter in MDM. The School which were providing the mid day meal made a parent group which would monitor the quality of food. With whatever funds come are spent under supervision of the parents group. The child is even asked to bring his own plate from the home, washes it after the lunch, takes it away and brings it next day. In this way all the children are getting proper nutritious food, just in 5 Rs per child. This ensures the cleanliness and hygiene.
The involvement of the mothers in MDM has had many positive spins offs. Their presence in the school premises and constant and regular monitoring by the state authorities ensure that teachers don’t absent themselves from duty and regular classes are run.
Not only this the INDUS programme run by the Govt for the elimination of the child labour has found that involvement of mothers in MDM has brought the children more faster to the schools. In some areas the NGO’s have joined the Govt hands in running special schools for rehabilitating these children and helps them to include in mainstreaming. The mothers involved in the MDM are additionally given the stipend monthly that supports the family also. Most important is that different religion, caste and culture children sit and eat together breaking all-cultural and caste barrier.
Dr Neeti Sharma
Resources : News Papers articles
Posted byNeeti at 12:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: knowledge sharing
1st WORLD’s AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Today Sakshum (www.sakshum.com) took an initiative to spread awareness about Autism. We printed 1000 pamphlets and distributed them along with today's morning newspaper.
Following are contents for those who missed the information:
If your child is showing any signs like
Ø Poor eye contact.
Ø Lack of social interaction (like playing alone, not interacting to to others, showing no signs of recognising the parents or relatives)
Ø Poor/delay in speech and communication development (poor babbling, not able to speak in sentences, poor non-verbal communication, poor use of gestures)
Ø Behaviour problem (stubborn, head banging, hitting, screaming)
Ø Sensory issues (restlessness, anxiety, avoid hugging and touching, poor tolerance to light, high pitch volume)
Ø Poor gross/fine movements (repetitive falls, writing problems like poor handwriting)
Ø Hyperactivity, looks like ill behaved and attention deficient.
Ø Delayed in learning or associated with mental retardation to some.
Ø Poor adjustment in school, with friends, family members
Ø Physically the child develops normally but lags behind in communication and social skills, child look like aloof and isolated or involved in self only
It is not temperament of child nor will this be treated by itself. This is AUTISM.
Typically, about 20 in a population of 10,000 people will be autistic or have autistic symptoms. 80% of those affected by autism are boys. Autism is found throughout the world, in families of all economic, social, and racial backgrounds.
It can happen at birth, or a child may have a period of normal development followed by a deterioration of verbal and social skills around 1 1/2-2 1/2 years.
If any of the above signs are noticed in your or neighbour’s children then contact to your nearest Early interventionist, Child Psychologist, Special Educator or Paediatrician.
Early detection and diagnosis may yield better results. Together we can make their life better
Need to know more about autism/ or wants to share ideas and experience call us on 09246215270
Or visit to our site
or join us on forum
Posted byNeeti at 12:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: autism, awareness, celebrations, knowledge sharing
A visit to Zoo with Sri Vidhya's centre
Sunday, March 23, 2008
On the beautiful morning of 22nd March 2008; Satyam foundation with the Sakshum volunteers took the children with special need of Sri Vidhya’s centre for the special children to Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad. The outing was planned for the children as an experience of outside world and a real encounter with the wild life for the recreation and enjoyment.
Sri Vidhya’s centre for the special need children is a special school with the residential facilities for the mentally challenged children of varying age. No matter what caste, background and religion all children are treated same and being trained for their independence so that at their age, they can be included in society. From 1999, the centre is serving for the special need children and got an excellence in handling and training them. Started from the 8 children now the centre is catering the needs of nearly 70 children, out of them few are orphans. Many of children are getting services without any cost that otherwise never could access to such facilities. The staff is trained and dedicated with a soft heart approach. So for some children it is the way of fulfilling their dreams or for few it is their home.
The day started with the welcome to the volunteers in the school campus. Along with the good morning wishes, hot and delicious idlies were served. The bus started with the children, teachers and caretakers to the zoo. Two special guest were also their who were working with the centre and making a documentary with these children. The children sang songs and played Antakashri and enjoyed the journey. The bus reached to the zoo on time. The children were divided into few groups with volunteers and teachers. The children started enjoying the zoo with big tortoises who were enjoying their food. Later they saw the turtles, crocodiles, colourful fishes and water snakes in the ponds. In bird section they enjoyed the national animal, the peacock who was dancing as weather was cloudy. Few children enjoyed the monkeys who were jumping from one tree to other. Later the children and other volunteers enjoyed the train ride, which covered the rest of the zoo. We all enjoyed seeing the white tiger, lion, deer, bear, parrots, elephant etc. At 2 pm it was the time for the lunch. Later we played in the park and enjoyed the rides. In evening we all said bye to the children and thanked to the school for providing the opportunity to enjoy our day with children.
Indeed it was a beautiful and educational day. The children learnt a lot about animals and enjoyed the day. All the volunteers were happy to interact with the children who made their day. Special thanks to SATYAM Foundation, Sri Vidhya Centre, children and other volunteers to make the event memorable.
Dr Neeti Sharma
Posted byNeeti at 8:21 PM 1 comments
Labels: Experiences
Dr Neeti Sharma awarded gold medal for PGDEI 2008 from NIMH
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Posted byNeeti at 10:16 AM 3 comments
