Special Schools for Differently Abled Children

1. Special Schools for Differently Abled Children and Orphans

Santhivardhana Ministrieshas been maintaining Special School for the mentally and physically challenged children. There are 150 above physically and mentally differently abled children were dwelling and has been providing food, shelter, clothing, education, physiotherapy, speech therapy, vocational training to the children. There are 3 children were orphans and there is no support from their families & relatives. There are 8 qualified special teachers and 12 helper teachers and efficient staffs were providing their services for the sustainability of the disable children.

Education:“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world said by Nelson Mandela. Santhivardhana Ministries supports children with disabilities pursue higher education in institutes of their choice. Children are offered end to end support starting from primary education enrolment into courses of their choice to practical support in terms of fee, digital audio books, scribes, tutors, and hostel facilities. Academic expenditure is taken care of along with study material in accessible format for persons with visual and print related disabilities. Santhivardhana provides practical support to students in pursuing higher education each year paving way to successful careers. As a result, some of our students have completed their study and procured jobs in Government and private sector.

Health & Nutrition:Santhivardhana conducting regular health check-up visits and camps for the welfare of children with special needs. Provided aids and physiotherapy equipment with the support of District Disable Welfare Department and some of the charity institutions. The standard food menu and nutritious meals has been provided to children for their holistic growth. The nutritious food has given good health and prevention of contaminated and seasonal diseases. The sponsorships are invited to sustain the program and scale up to cover a greater number of children.

Life Skilling:Recognizing the need to facilitate the disabled with basic skill-based livelihood training and provide broader employment opportunities, provides technical and sector-based skill training, to youth with disabilities and from underserved backgrounds. Training categories include communication skills, accent training, computer training and gardening.

There are two special schools are established and runs by Santhivardhana. One at Pulimeru village of Peddapuram mandal and another one at Annavaram of Shankavaram mandal of East Godavari District. The Pulimeru school is established in the year 2005 and the Annavaram school is established in the year 2015. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has provided funds to running of the school at Pulimeru but Annavaram branch has depends upon the donations.  Santhivardhana ministries also runs a special school at Bendapudi village nearer to Annavaram of Thondangi Mandal at East Godavari district for children with intellectual disabilities, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, teaching and learning aids, facility for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. 3 children are initial strength of the school in the year 2015. Now the total inmates are30 children with intellectual disabilities are trained in the basic daily activities and functional literacy making them independent. Qualified special educators, physiotherapist, speech therapist and care takers ensure holistic development in a secure and friendly atmosphere. The 1:7 teacher student ratio is to maintain individual care and attention. The school is supported by individual donors/like-minded persons.

The children in the both schools were happily living with homogeneous group and learnt all the training besides education for their livelihood option in future and strengthen their capacities for sustainability. Through capacity building and psycho-social support leads to children in dignified and self-reliance life in future.

2. Mobility Support:

Mobility is very hard to a physically or mentally challenged persons residing at rural or urban area. The escorted caretaker support is must for any little mobility. Education and physiotherapy both are the part of survival measures for the disabled. If getting a good education or job is very difficult for a disabled to move as a normal human being. Many differently abled people cannot manage to pay for the aids and appliances for affordable mobility and hence, they suffer a lot. We provide aids and appliances to many deserving disabled and these are funded by individuals and organizations. The aids and appliances include artificial limbs, crutches, calipers, wheelchairs, tricycles, three-wheeler motorcycles and autos etc., Both the Santhivardhana and affiliated district disabled organizations perform this activity extensively as this empowers the disabled lot very effectively. Hundreds have been benefitted.

3. Entrepreneurship/Livelihood Support:

Santhivardhana provides financial support for those differently abled people wishing to take on entrepreneurial endeavors. We support them to set up their own petty shops, tiffin centers, mobile vending carts, autos, phone booths, xerox shops, cycle shops, motorcycle sheds, tailoring shops, fish vending, goat and sheep rearing, buffalo rearing, agriculture and allied activities. Santhivardhana supports them not only in setting up their own enterprise but also gives them continuous support by educating and advises them to overcome obstacles and challenges in their business. From the inception of the organization has formed self-help groups for the sustainability of the rural disable families. In the year 2018 to till we have supporting more than 400 people to enhance their livelihood.

4. Conducting of Free Health Checkup and Distribution of Medicines

Operation Blessing India has supported to conducting a medical camp to the vulnerable people by the initiation of Santhivardhana Ministries.  Above 600 vulnerable sick and poor people were benefited through this medical camps.  Some of the qualified doctors from Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada has examined the patients and provide free medicines to the patient’s worth of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Santhivardhana has approaching the Government Health Department and ICDS for conducting pulse polio, immunization programmes and mother & child health check-ups in monthly basis. The team has participated and serve for the needy community for ensure to reach the target of immunization by providing handhold support to ANMs and Asha’s within their geographical area. The surrounding areas of special school is under development villages such as Divili, Chadalada, Tirupathi, Gudivada, Tatiparthi, Virava, Gorinta, Vadlamuru were benefited in this medical camp. OM foundation and French doctors were joined hands and appreciated the work of the director of the organization.Now a days, so many people due to illiteracy, lack of money and scary about the doctor’s consulting fees, medical tests and medicines, in these misery conditions the medical camp was very successful.

5. Observation of National and International Days

World Disabled Day:Mr. P. Suryakala, Mandal Educational Officer, Mr. P. Appanna, Mandal President and Mr. Thota Gopala Krishna, EX-MLA were participated for the observation of disable week.  Conducting competition to the disable children on javelin throw musical chairs, running competition, Singing Competitions and Indoor games and distributed prizes to winners.Santhivardhana Ministries has also conducted rally on disable rights and Government schemes for the welfare of the disable persons of the society.Santhivardhana Ministries is conducting awareness camps to parents towards the disability and their rights and Government facilities to these people. Santhivardhana has fight for these disabled people because he is one of them. Government is giving so many facilities and reservations to these disabled people. The Government itself is doing campaigns towards these issues for 12 years it is working and fighting for multiple disabled categories.

World Autism day:Santhivardhana celebrated the World Autism Day on 2nd April of every year in the School premises. In between our students, local people and Computer Software Solutions International, Hyderabad people the Autism day was celebrated. Speeches on what is Autism and its causes and the schemes for their rehabilitation, after him our staff continued about the children with Autism how to identify and some of the precautions to parents and their brothers, sisters. After that the representatives from CSSI, Hyd. were distributed education kits for the children’s education.

Helen killer birthday celebrations:The celebrations of Helen Keller Birthday were on 27th June at the special school premises with the participation of villagers, parents along with special needs children. Garlanded to the portrait of Helen Keller and explained about her life history and why she influenced others by her special skills even she blind. The success stories of Sri Keller were impressed and inspirational to all people. Sweets and Biscuits distributed to the children.

Republic and Independence Day celebrations:Santhivardhana has celebratedRepublic and Independence Daywith special need children. Dr. Indana Jaya Krishna, Children specialist doctor ishosted the National Flag as like in every year. The schoolteachers were conducted fancy dress competitions and cultural programs to their children separated by their special category. All the children were participated with lot of enthusiasm. Doctor and his family members were appreciated the children about their all-round performances.

Mother Teresa birthday celebrations:Santhivardhana Special School has celebrated on 26^th August the birthday of Mother Teresa. Garlanded Mother’s photographs and chief guests addressed about Mother Teresa, how she committed in the service of needy, about her dedication towards the poor people and stressed about the commitment, learnings about the great human services from her life history. All the committee members of Santhivardhana organization, Santhivardhana School’s special children and staff participated

Teacher’s day celebrations:On the occasion of Teacher’s Day celebrations on 5th September, the organization was conducted a programme. Chief Guest garland the photograph of Sri. Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishna, farmer Indian President on his birthday. They suggested some new points towards implementing the lifestyle of the students at Santhivardhana.

Gandhi Jayanthi:Father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi is celebrated at Santhivardhana Special School on 2nd Octoberat special school premises. The special need children garlanded the photograph of Mahatma. Teaches and children are played some songs about Mahatma

Children’s day celebrations:  Santhivardhana celebrated children’s day very special with the special children.  The   teachers aredecorating the school and makeup a child as Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Children are enjoyed with cultural activities and singing songs.

Observation of World Aids Day: on 1^st December of every year Santhivardhana has been observing World Aids Day with the conduction of rally and sensitization meetings. Regularly conducting school level HIV/AIDS meetings to the primary and high school children with the help of IEC and BCC material

6. Safe Motherhood day/Samuhika Sreemanthalu

Santhivardhana celebrated Samuhika Sreemanthalu on the occasion of safe motherhood day with the participation of tribal, scheduled and backward class pregnant women and lactating mothers. Conducted free health check-up, counselling and free medicine distribution to pregnant women and sensitize them on antenatal and prenatal care or during pregnancy and after delivery with the collaboration of Health and Women & Child Welfare Department. The special day has been celebrated for the sensitization and as well as promote our traditions and customs towards pregnant women and lactating mothers. Santhivardhana has provided one kit including blouse piece, bangles, turmeric, Kumkum and peanut chekkies at the end of the event in every year

7. Tribal Adult Literacy

Adult Education aims at extending educational options to those adults, who have lost the opportunity and have crossed the age of formal education, but now feel a need for learning of any type, including literacy, basic education, skill development (Vocational Education) and equivalency. Education for tribals who normally speak their own tongues is beset with difficulties, because the acquisition of literacy must be combined with the learning of a language other than the mother tongue. Most of the tribals are not completed their primary education and majority were not able to do their signature in the remote pockets of East Godavari district. Santhivardhana provides night schools for adult education at 20 villages of Rajavommangi Mandal of East Godavari district. The literacy volunteers are conducting the school in nighttime to adults after completion of their daily activities. The aim of this activity to empower tribal community on basic literacy and financial literacy for the sake of money lenders and middle men.

8. Vocational and Computer Training Programmes

180 rural youth and women were undergone 3 months Computer Training programme. This programme has implemented by Santhivardhana with the support of Community Polytechnic scheme of Human Resource Development, Delhi. DTP, MS-Office, Visual Basic and internet skills were the main important points in the training.  12 beneficiaries were getting jobs in various Private institutions through this training programme.

9. Conducting Consumer Awareness Campaigns

Conducting awareness campaigns on Divili (Saturday Sunday) and Kirlampudi (Tuesday Sunday) on consumer awareness. Consumers were sensitized on how to market their produce for better price with right weighment in open market and right to information act.

10. Old Age Home

According to the National Council on Aging, about 92 percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77 percent have at least two. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common and costly chronic health conditions causing two-thirds of deaths each year. And, in rural areas due to poverty and lack of care takers are the two major causes to old age persons. The rural old age persons are not much educated, and their major occupation is cultivation. Hence, they do not get any pension or other benefits except old age pension. Santhivardhana Ministries has identified 30 vulnerable old age persons at the surroundings of the operational area and provided food and shelter at their special school premises. The old age home gives them protection from intruders and helps them live a safe and secure life. They are in constant companionship of each other and do their daily activities and improve their learning skills and some are interested in Agri-based product preparation, caring of Goshala and other income generation activities as well as recreational activities.