Empowering Projects and Sponsors
Several projects have been instrumental in the continued survival of the centres, as without these projects and the benefactors the institute wouldn’t have been what it is today. The projects have helped in educationally rehabilitating and empowering the beneficiaries and also in making them financially independent and valued member of society, the goals of inclusion has furthered, has increased our outreach and exposure, facilitated in provisioning the needed services to the poor of the hinterland. The major projects have been highlighted below:
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR)
Community-based rehabilitation programme began in 2017 with the primary intention of facilitating independence of children with disabilities, enhancing inclusivity and accessibility in the surrounding communities along with provision of healthcare, home-based rehabilitative services and livelihood opportunities. It covered 27 villages of Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya falling under two blocks viz., Umsning Block and Bhoirymbong Block. It enrolled CWDs into community schools, trained the teachers in sign language, carried out home-based rehabilitation programmes like ASLs, communication and behavioral control, medication support for mental illness and epilepsy. Furthermore, community-based organizations (CBOs) like Disability Persons Organizations (DPOs), BDPOs were created to oversee and promote inclusivity and SHGs were established to facilitate alternative livelihood options.
University College Dublin Volunteer Overseas (UCDVO)
The centre has for a long time collaborated with volunteers of UCD Volunteer Overseas, a registered charity founded in 2003 by the late Fr. Tony Coote. Through this volunteer programme, the overseas students have come to centre to conduct home visits and identification of beneficiaries suffering from physical or movement disabilities and have organized residential physiotherapy programme involving both the parents and child beneficiaries. The partakers are also presented with assistive devices at the end of the programme. The most significant outcome of the programme has been attainment of self-reliance and independence amongst the partakers in managing and living with the disability.
Christian Blind Mission (CBM)
CBM has sponsored a number of programmes for the centre, the chief ones being the computer unit in the school, also smart class which was launched in 2019.
Light for the World
Light for the World, Austria, a global development organization sparking lasting change on eye health and disability rights has sponsored the education and rehabilitation of the students in the school for a number of years. The support of the organization has been instrumental in the varied achievements and the current organization’s trajectory and outlook.
Social Welfare Department
Social Welfare Department, government of Meghalaya has been steadfast in supporting the centre and has been one the reasons for its continued existence and survival. The department’s timely intervention has enabled the organization to stay afloat and continue on empowering the vulnerable children with disabilities.
Furthermore, Volkart foundation and State Bank of India donated one school bus each. Additionally, there have been and continue to be sponsors who open their hearts for the upliftment of the vulnerable children. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our funders and we hope they will continue to fund the centre so that we can continue to support and empower the marginalized and vulnerable children with disabilities.