By
Bhuvana Kamath and Lolisha Pinto
Tom Amos the CEO and co-founder of Sidekicker says “Some of the most wonderful people are the ones who don’t fit into boxes”. How true is that?
Every day we come across scores of people who do not fit into our life’s box. They are different because they are differently abled, different from us “normal people”. They are differently abled in many ways – it could be in relation to their physical ability, social abilities, or even their intelligence. They could have More or Less of any or all these faculties. That makes them special, but in no way alter the fact that they are equals. Equal, but special is what they are. But somehow, the ground reality is different. They are special but not equal and this alters their existence in more ways than one. But then there are those that recognise this and go beyond the limitations and shackles that life puts on them to reach out and help them attain the dignity that equality offers those who are special, those with special needs even as they help them deal with those special needs.
These special needs are often recognized when children either cross or fail to reach their developmental milestones in the time universally acknowledged to be the right time. While those who cross those milestones early, there are venues and avenues and of course encouragement aplenty – they are seen as pearls in an oyster that has washed ashore unexpectedly – those who do not reach those milestones on time fall into a different category altogether. Those who deal with them – their parents, and society often do not know how to deal with them and address their special needs. They learn along the way, but the support eco system is often poorly equipped, and this is exactly where society’s focus should be if it is to live up to its tag line “humane society”.
Few step into the breach to shore up this eco system – because it is difficult and requires attention to detail that goes beyond the normal – because it’s special.
Daya Special Children’s School, a Unit of Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra (CKSK) is making that effort through its daycare centre for children with special needs. CKSK is a voluntary organization led by Franciscan Capuchin Fathers of the Karnataka Province. The organization is an integrated community focused on development activities with other contributors to the cause. But going beyond, the CKSK, also provides support to small and marginal farmers and those who suffer from HIV-AIDS, focusing on children and women. They promote agriculture by providing seeds to famers and provide training in various aspects.
They began their endeavour to cater to the needs of special children 3 years ago. Today they are serving 75 children along with scores of volunteers. Director Fr. Vinod Mascarenhas and Associate Director Fr. Edwin D’Souza leads the effort with the help of the children’s parents.
Beating against all odds
The CKSK ‘s objective is to promote education, rural development, and provide constant support to uplift the medical and living conditions of the poor.
Child fund India, Volkart Foundation Indian Trust, Manos Unidas, Bridge Foundation, and Training for Development Scholarship Society are few of their collaborators in this endeavour.
Parents of the special children that CKSK that takes care of are mostly from the daily wage earner category. And with both the parents working, their children are left high and dry. Combined with having special needs these children need special care and that is what CKSK provides. CKSK provides them with regular health checks, physiotherapy, speech and hearing therapy and training in vocational disciplines like stitching, drawing, tailoring, and physiotherapy sessions. They are also provided with nutritious food all free of cost. Indeed, the CKSK is a parent substitute that is a constant parental love force in their lives.
But the onus is on the parents to support them in their endeavour to give love and help these special children grow. “Parents must support our Day-care Centre by enrolling their children to enrol in the centre and teaching them basic things in the best way possible. Of course, we help them and train them to do that too,” the Directors said.
CKSK now offer similar services at different locations viz. CKSK Vimukti Ujire, CKSK Vimukti Bankal, CKSK Gangavathi, Dati and Ashakiran.
They are destiny’s children, and we can help them make their destiny beautiful. Its time to support CKSK’s efforts in the best way we can – Money, time, effort, or any other. Do contact the Daya Special Children’s School for more.
If you’d like to donate, please do so at A/C Holder: DAYA SPECIAL CHILDREN SCHOOL; Bank Name: STATE BANK OF INDIA; A/C No: 38576862376; Branch & IFSC Code: BELTHANGADY & SBIN 003356. Donations are tax exempt under the applicable sections of the IT Act.
Its time to be special for the special. As Christopher Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004), an American actor, writer, and director best known for playing the DC Comics character Superman, said after a debilitating accident in 1995 left him a quadriplegic needing a portable ventilator for the rest of his real life, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
