Deliver disability care to 25000-rural Bangalore

Dear donors,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital.  

Thank you for your continued support. When your thoughts and kindness reach remote villages in Bangalore rural, it creates beautiful, magical moments for people with disabilities. Your donations augment their hope and aspirations for a new life. 

In rural villages, people with disabilities live isolated life accepting their disability as fate. Young girls and women experience gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and exploitation than women and girls without disabilities. Parents keep children at home for lack of knowledge or facilities without realising that early intervention can improve outcomes for their children. With yours and many other supporters, we are changing their perceptions through awareness and timely support. 

Ensuring people get access to government entitlement 

Bhargav, a six-year-old with speech and hearing difficulties, heard her mother calling her by her name. Guiding the parents to access government facilities drove Bhargav to get a hearing aid. Then there is Keerthi with disabilities, who works as a helper in a small convenience store in his village. "With a two-wheeler you've given me; I plan to ride up to the city, buy groceries and vegetables in a wholesale market and distribute to small shops in my village. Yes, I will change the way I live," he said with an overriding optimism in his tone. 

Children with disabilities are on the road to a hopeful land 

5-year old Harshil, who has a Global Developmental Delay, steps out of a wrapped life and is transported to a beautiful, promising and hopeful future. Noticing Harshil during a home visit, our healthcare worker encouraged his parents to visit our centre to get special education to meet the needs of such children. His dedicated mother never misses bringing Harshil to school. Even during the lockdown, she ensured Harshil followed our online classes. Speech therapy has helped Harshil form two-word sentences, and physiotherapy has helped him stand and walk.

While no two mothers are alike, their hopes and dreams are similar across the world. And so is Harshil's mother. "Harshil's condition hit us hard. We were heartbroken. Not anymore," she quickly wipes away a tear. I am hopeful for more. If not for you, we wouldn't be seeing a new Harshil. Now, I never miss taking Harshil for all family get-togethers". Even though taking Harshil to the centre means that she carries him for two kilometres to get a bus, hope and determination drove her forward despite these challenges to make sure her son got the support he needed. 

You put a smile on his face. 

Meet Mujahid, who is in class five. Mujahid loves going to school, but his weak legs restrict his movements. His mother had to carry him to school. Many a time, he missed school when his mother fell sick. Mujahid missed his friends and his time in school when he couldn't attend. When we gave a wheelchair, Mujahid could not hide the joy in his heart. "He can now go to school or even run an errand for me. We are humbled and very grateful," his mother adds. Now, possibilities open up, and Mujahid can begin to dream about a different future. 

When mothers become teachers and mentors

Meet Sharvani, a mother of Sathvik, and this is her story.

"Our journey with our son Sathvik has been a tough one. Diagnosed with Down Syndrome, we have stepped in and out of many hospitals and moved to different cities."

Through a friend's referral, Sharvani walked into our centre with Sathvik.

"Since Sathvik wouldn't sit in class without me, I met many mothers in a similar situation during my time in the centre. Motivated by Sathvik's incredible progress, I wanted to help more children and motivate the mothers too. I have completed the teacher's training and have become a special education teacher in the centre. I am a happy person today–not only because of my son's progress but the thought that I can help more children and take a message to many mothers in other villages too." 

Thank you for partnering with us to give a new life to people and children with disabilities. Your gift has not only infused hope, renewed dignity, and freedom in an individual's life but the lives of their family members and local communities as well. We are filled with awe and immense gratitude for your continued support

Gratefully,

Carol