Support and Inclusion for Children with Special Needs at Samerth Talim Kendra, Ahmedabad

Smerth Talim Kendra Ahmedabad, Gujarat PROJECT PROPOSAL AMIT SHARMA MAY 2016

Background Samerth Trust is an NGO that works on social inclusion of marginalized communities in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh states. Smerth has 80G exemption and FCRA approval Samerth Talim Kendra, is a day care for special needs children in Juhapura Sarkhej cluster, a relatively impoverished, Muslim majority locality in south-west Ahmedabad Juhapura is characterized by internally displaced and marginalized population, a majority of whom were affected in the communal violence that erupted in 2002 in Gujarat. The riots have led to a ghettoisation and the population has jumped from about 50 thousand in 2002 to about 4.5 lakhs today. A large part of the population belongs to the Muslim, Dalit and OBC, mostly daily wage earners and/or self employed, communities The average monthly income of more than 50% of the population is less than Rs.10,000/- per month. http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/life-and-angst-in-a-ghetto-115101000851_1.html The overall literacy rate of the area is high but so is the school dropout rate (https://goo.gl/EYubQv)

Background It is estimated that 10% of the overall population suffers from some form of disability. Their conditions exacerbate when combined with poverty, illiteracy, unawareness and consanguineous marriages Disabled children are a social, financial, mental and physical burden to their families. Such children often do not go to school and hardly leave their homes; and are either hidden from the society or are disowned by parents due to fear and/or misbelief In response to this need, in 2006 Samerth started a specialized facility for disabled children - Samerth Talim Kendra that today caters to over 40 children with special needs. The aim of this Kendra was to provide support and services to the disabled children and their families as well as create awareness regarding disability in community, encourage early detection and dispel myths and misbelieves associated with it.

Objectives Run a well equipped disability center (Talim Kendra) for 42 children with special needs. Training and skill development of special children for functional self-reliance in everyday life Ensuring preparedness of special children for integration in the mainstream society, by ways helping them be independent in activities of daily living, vocational training, reading/writing skills etc. Creating awareness about needs of people with disabilities and factors contributing to incidence of disability in various stake holders at community level. Liasoning with government bodies and other stakeholders to provide people with disabilities the required services and schemes available for them

Achivements Till date, out of 146 children enrolled at the center, 12 children have been enrolled in regular schools , 5 children have become financially independent by getting jobs or starting enterprises and 12 have enrolled in other vocational institutes Talim Kendra Children have participated in sports at city , district and state level, art and craft and drawing events and have excelled More than the children Talim Kendra has made a significant impact on community and families, family members feel proud of their children and they no longer shy away from owning them in public

Team Gazala Paul, Program Director Masters in Coexistence and Conflict Management from Brandeis University, and MSW from Indore School of Social Work Ashish Mehta, Program Lead (Urban) MSW and Certificate from IRMA Afroz Baig, Team Leader & Program Coordinator BA, Foundational Certificate course on disability from Bhoj University, Muktagan Certified Rashida Mansoori, Teacher BA Fatema Chopda, Vocational Teacher Teachers Training in Needle Craft Zarina Memon (10th) Secondary School Diploma Naznin Chawda (10th) Secondary School Diploma

Goals & Outcomes for 2016/2017 The project will work with 42 special needs children from poor and marginalized backgrounds in Juhapura area to help them better integrate in the society. Each child will be assessed according to his/her individual action plan and goals at the end of one year (see prooposal annexture) Awareness through Parent teachers meetings, participation in social and cultural forums, home visits, will be created about needs of people with disabilities and factors contributing to incidence of disability in various stake holders such as parents, health care givers, staff member Two district level workshops will be organised, which will be see participation from various stakeholders. The workshops will aim to help the differently abled find a voice of their own, identify needs, express views on priorities, evaluate services, advocate change and public awareness

Budget & Funding Total budget is Rs. 2235600.00 (~ $34394 @ 65Rs/1$) for 2016-17 Gruh Finance funding of Rs.448800/- is up-till March 2016. Talim Kendra is free for anyone and enrolment is offered on first-come, first- serve basis. Students who can afford do pay an optional fee, in 2015 a cumulative fee of Rs. 1,44,000/- was collected that was spent for transportation expenses

Activity Baseline survey of 50,000 community members (includes per diem for surveyors, photocopies, travel, report making ) 1 100000 1 100000 Exposure visit of children ( once every quarter to a zoo, railway station, science city, park etc) 2 15,000 4 60,000 Exposure visit of teachers (four teachers to organisationsworking on disability - like Jai Vakeel institute, ) twice in year for 2 days 3 5000 8 40,000 Teacher's training with subject matter experts - 2 days each ,once every quarter (includes professional fees to the expert, travel and food cost of four teachers) 4 5000 8 40,000 Parents counseling meeting (every quarter) Home visits by team Fortnightly basis visit to the centre (speech therapist) 5,000 500 3,000 4 1 20,000 6,000 72,000 5 6 7 12 24 8 9 Physiotherapist cost Once in quarter visit by psychologist and neuro surgeon 1,200 3,000 24 8 12 345,600 24,000 10 Transportation cost for the children from home to Kendra by auto rikshaw 12,000 2 12 288,000 Salaries Project Coordinator (75% of her time) 4 teachers (2 fulltime and four part time) Art and craft and special teacher (part time) for vocational training 11 12 13 15,000 12,000 6,000 1 4 1 12 12 12 180,000 576,000 72,000 14 Helper at the centre 5,500 1 12 66,000 Fixed cost Rent and Electricity per month Furniture (benches to be specially made for children) 15 16 15,000 2,500 1 8 12 1 180,000 20,000 17 18 Stationery and TLM Material Individual rugs to sit on the floor 2,400 1,000 40 50 1 96,000 50,000 2,235,600 Total

As I was about to conclude my visit, that lasted a little over an hour and a half, I parent came to pick his child from the day care. After fetching his son from Naznin s classroom, he [name withheld] stopped by and introduced himself to me. And said [quote, translated from Gujarati] this day care has changed our life, what they have done for my child is nothing short of a miracle. Please help this day care if you can in any way. I do not know how he assessed my presence with ability to help the day care center, but, he seemed full of gratitude. He further mentioned that ... its only because of Samerth that out children are becoming capable of handling themselves, we don t know how we would take care of them otherwise ... .

During our discussion in the hall, a child Imran, came and sat near us to eat his lunch. Imran has moderate mental retardation and has been at the center for a few years now. Afroz encouraged him to sit and eat, and ask for any help. I understood that eating lunch, being able to wash his hands after eating, and showing a clean tiffin box to us might not sound much, but, for Imran was a tremendous achievement. This entire episode also highlighted the problem that the current facility poses to children like Imran, he had to walk down to wash his hands while Afroz quietly excused herself from our discussion to check on him. Imran doesn t like asking for help anymore, but, somebody from the staff is always watching.