Disability Rights India Project #36405

Empower 800 children with birth defects in Chennai

by Sukriti Social Foundation

Project Report | Jan 4, 2021
You gave Praveen hopes to dream to be a cricketer

By Sowmya Simhan | Trustee

Praveen thanking God for his progress

Dear friends,

Happy New Year.

Thank you for your support in 2020 and helping us reach out to more children in 2021.

This year, we have so much to be thankful for at Social Sukriti Foundation, especially in light of the challenges we have faced during this pandemic.

With your support, we have been able to continue to support children in need of appliances. And one of them is Praveen

When Praveen was four years old, he was affected by a high fever which affected his legs and fingers. His legs are twisted so are his fingers. The poor parents rushed him to many doctors and hospitals who treated him for neuro disorders. Very late, they found the Children Hospital in Chennai and from then onwards, Praveen's path has been full of possibilities.

Praveen's elder brothers do not have any such disability issues. "Both the brothers love each other so much that I don't worry about Praveen at all' says his mother. His father was before the lockdown worked in a factory but now has lost his job. His mother works in a sericulture unit, earning so little that she finds it hard to put food on the table.

Praveen underwent surgery at the Children's hospital and from then onwards he had to wear supportive appliances to set this legs right. With their financial difficulties, they almost gave up on getting the needed appliances.

But thanks to your generosity of friends like you, Praveen received the appliances he needed to gain his legs' support. Praveen attends school, participates in games which he enjoys. During his recent visit to the doctors, they informed his parents that and Praveen has a recovery rate of 90%. All he needs is physiotherapy and wearing of the appliances just for precaution. "We are so relieved and thank you so much. Now my son can dream and reach his goals," says his mother in between heavy sighs and relief.

"I am delighted because now I can play with my friends and one day I will be a cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar," grinned Praveen. He continues, "I enjoy going to school. Though holding a pen with my fingers is a challenge, I am happy that my legs are getting stronger. Now I can practice on the playground like others."

With your support, from September to October 2020, we have distributed 192 appliances. Of these, 128 are foot abduction orthosis for children with a club foot. Rest are appliances such as ankle-foot orthosis, walkers, and Pavlik harness. 75% of the children fall in the age group of 0-3, 22% in the age group of 4-8, and the rest are above the age of 8.

There are still many more children like Praveen who have so much potential and are waiting for appliances. Would you continue to support such children to attend school, play and enjoy their childhood?

We'd be happy if you can circulate this report to friends and family members who may be motivated to support the children.

With gratitude

Sowmya

Permalink

Sep 6, 2020
Tiny glimmers of hope amidst COVID-19

By Sowmya Simhan | Trustee

A relieved Saroja buying provisions for the family

Dear donors,

Greetings from Sukriti Social Foundation.

We hope you are fine and safe. Thank you for your continued support especially during the Pandemic. We greatly appreciate your concern.

COVID-19 crisis and the economic fallout robbed lives and livelihood. Many are desperate for food. But thanks to generous donors like, you, we met their most urgent need. You made it possible for families to buy their essentials from neighbourhood grocery shops. Thank you.

Your compassion and care are making sure no child goes to bed hungry.

Saroja (name changed) never lets sorrow have the final word. She bravely met hurdles while taking care of her child with a disability. But when the pandemic hit, she faced brand new challenges, including hunger caused by COVID-19. With their income plummeted, they experienced hunger along with fear, anxiety and hopelessness. She couldn't bear to see her children go to bed in hunger.

Thankfully, your gift showed up at the right time! and we distributed money to our beneficiaries to buy provisions. You gave families such as Saroja essential items such as rice, sugar, milk and oil. Because of you, these families have new hope within them to provide for their families. Thank you for being with poor families.

"Thank you, for this meaningful help," Saroja said. "My family and I are grateful."

When your cup of generosity overflows, so many lives are touched. The provisions that you helped buy are feeding children and they are no longer hungry. Thank you.

Now that the country is opening up, we will begin our work with children with birth defects. Parents are still reluctant to visit hospitals. But we will motivate parents to seek medical help which is so crucial to identify such defects at an early stage.

Thank you once again for your continued support. Please do forward this report to your family members and friends who may care to support.

With gratitude,

Sowmya

Sunil (name changed) buying provisions

Permalink

May 11, 2020
Nishant 's tiptoes and sprints for the first time

By Sowmya Simhan | Trustee

Dear donors,

Greetings from Sukriti Social Foundation.

We hope you and your family are safe during this unprecedented time. As for us, we are safe, but anticipating more difficult times ahead, especially for our community of children. Identifying and finding a remedy for children with birth defects cannot be postponed indefinitely and we are working hard to help them during this difficult time.

Story of Nishanth brightens our day and we want to share with you. It's only because of donors such as you magical moments happen. Thank you.

5-year old Nishanth, for the first time, began experimenting what he could do with his legs. He squeaks, trods, plods and sprints. Why wouldn't he? While splashing water in a stream near this home, he puts his head up; looks at his mother, revealing his new-found joy. Along with the mother, his father lets out a heavy sigh of relief. For the past few years, Nishanth has watched with awe his sisters and the neighbourhood children sprinting endlessly kicking the dust off the ground.

"Nishanth was born with birth defects. As a baby, we never noticed the defects. But, when he was one year, we noticed the difference. My husband works as a mason and he earns only when there is work. So, we were distressed thinking of a remedy for Nishanth," recalls his mother." Thankfully, with the support of the Institute of Child Health and Sukrti Social Foundation, we got the appliances for Nishanth. We never missed his appointments at the hospital and religiously followed all treatment. We need to replace the appliances periodically and Sukriti has been a blessing to us. Now, Nishanth can comfortably walk and is enjoying his time in school as well. There's no other joy for us," says an emotional father. Amidst their poverty, Nishanth progress is seen as a silver lining.

Along with Nishanth, with your support, we have provided the 225 different appliances to 200 children. Your support translates to joy, freedom and greater opportunities. These children, otherwise, would have had a challenging future, simultaneously losing the pleasure of growing up. Your support is crucial, as always.

We hope you'd continue to support us, especially during this difficult time. Providing the needed appliances to newly identified children and changing the worn-out ones to the existing children is an ongoing process. We cannot put a full stop. A child's future will be rewritten. Hope you'd continue to support us.

We are immensely thankful for your continued support and pray that you stay safe.

Warmly

Sowmya

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.