Genset arrived at Sandnya Srushti

The silent genset donated by Mr.Jeetendra Nayak finally arrived about two days back. The gen set is received from Goa. It is placed at the proper place which is at the back side of our building and near to our power meter box. It is a com packed and good looking unit with enough safety devices. It is yet to be commissioned in to service which will take another couple of days.

By: Navin Deshpande,Secretary, SSS

e-mail: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

A different visitor to Sandnya

We had a different visitor to Sandnya on 4th of Jan'11. Different in the sense, firstly the lady was German and secondly she was a ordinary citizen of Germany and not from a distinguished class of people. That is why I mean different. The lady told me that she ran away from home due to harassment from her mother. She said rarely a mother will harass her own son or daughters, but it did happen in her case as a exception, may be. It is because of this she never received mothers love and affection. She said, she is a ordinary worker in a mall but is coming to India for the second time. She said she liked India because here people care for each other. This is not the case in Germany she commented. People in Germany are more materialistic and self centered as compared to India. All the while when I was taking her around and showing activities in Sandnya Srushti she had tears in her eyes. When I told her that the master rule for managing mentally challenged is to love them genuinely. She was so much choked with emotions that she could not speak a word for some time. She said since I did never get genuine love she realizes the importance love and feels like giving it others in abundance.

In fact Gabhi, 62 years old German came along with Mrs.Deepali Telang, whose husband is in IFS and is posted in Indian Embassy at Berlin in Germany. Gabhi gave me neck tie as a present by putting donation of rupees five thousand rapped in this neck tie. when I said I do not were the neck tie, she said does not matter, some day I may feel like wearing this and then shall remember her. Gabhi was a simple soul and criticized Germany for many things which she does not like about it. Though German, she spoke English fluently and thus there was no problem of communication.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

e-mail: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

Awareness meeting

On 3rd of Jan'11 students of training institute "Pratikan" visited our Sandnya Srushti campus. They were present right from prayer. They were 30 students along with their staff. They are for the course of DSE[hearing impaired]. They were taken around the campus and our Principal Mr.Alok Dwivedi explained them the method and actual work under taken. After the guided tour they went to our first floor assembly hall for the orientation on the subject of mental disability.

For about one hour Navin Deshpande secretary of SSS briefed these these students regarding the causes, symptoms and rehabilitation of mentally challenged. He also gave detailed information on special education and rehabilitation of mentally disabled.

IIT- Home students on visit

On 31st Dec'10 300+ students of IIT- Home along with 14 staff and faculties visited Sandnya Srushti campus. Director of IIT Home Ms.Nisha Kothari makes it a point to bring each batch of theirs to Sandnya Srushti. The idea is to orient all these brilliant students who are inspiring to go to IIT in respect of mental disability in general and their moral responsibility towards these less fortunate children in particular. This is the single largest group of persons visiting to Sandnya Srushti at a time. It was indeed a challenge for us all at SSS. It is not only about managing such is a big group but it is also about showing them and explaining them the whole activity we carry out at our Sandnya Srushti campus.

We had 6 tour guides from our staff and trustees, each guide taking 25 students at a time for the guided tour of the campus. This guide took them to all departments and class rooms and explained them from out side of each room. They were not taken in to class rooms since the number was big. each guide had to take two groups of 25 at one time. It was arranged in such way that one group will reach to a particular class by the time earlier group has left from there. This guide tour was organized with lot of care. After finishing the tour, these IIT Home students took a break for lunch since they had brought their tiffins with them.

After this they went to our assembly hall on first floor for the orientation lecture. Our hall was packed to the capacity for the first time. Secretary Navin Deshpande talked to these students through power point presentation. He dealt with the subject of mental disability right from its causes to rehabilitation and management of these mentally challenged children. He explained them regarding there responsibility towards these less fortunates as a citizen. He did tell them about SSS as a organization and its commitment to serve this noble cause. There was a question answer session also. At last, Director of IIT Home, Ms.Nisha Kothari spoke to her students and appealed them that they should always remember and help such organizations. She said, " you are fortunate because GOD has given you every thing including intelligence also. But it does not mean that you use this only for your self satisfying desires. It is your moral responsibility to support such good cause materially and consciously as well."

Director, Nisha Kothari collects fine from her students for the laps of discipline on their part. The amount thus collected is matched with equal amount from her and this total amount is then donated to SSS. She is following this practice since last many years. This visit, this amount has exceeded one lack of rupee. We at SSS compliment IIT Home for this noble gesture.

Parent workshop at Sandnya Srushti

On 2 Jan'2011 a parent workshop was held at Sandnya Srushti campus Butibori for parents of our mentally challenged students. The faculty who conducted the workshop was Mrs.Pratima Hawaldar, clinical psychologist from Mumbai. The registration started at 10 am, which off course was free. Dr.RM Uttarwar, Chairman of SSS welcomed the faculty with a small token gift made by our rehab unit. With a brief introduction by secretary Navin Deshpande regarding the faculty and purpose of the said workshop, the session was handed over to Mrs.Pratima Hawaldar at 10:40 am.

The whole session went till 3:00pm with a small break for lunch in between. Though we do not charge any registration fees but still we provide lunch to the participants and staff of SSS.

Mrs.Hawaldar, a lady with vast and long standing experience in this field guided the parents for critical problems in their mentally challenged wards. She has a skill to make the parents relax instantly. Many of the parents had their children along with them since there was no body at home to look after them. Thus we had our staff who took care of these students through out this period. We do realize that such workshops may not provide ready made solutions for the problems faced by parents. But the whole idea of such inter action is to explore various options out of which one may be useful in a particular case. This inter action can help parents think in many different ways to get a solution or to get strength for couping up with the ultimate.

Training Programme for SSS staff

On 1st Jan 2011 we had a training programme for our total staff at Sandnya Srushti. This included Ayya and garden worker also. The faculty was Mrs.Pratima Hawaldar a clinical psychologist from Mumbai. About a month back I received a phone call of Mrs.Hawaldar from Mumbai, she said she is coming to Nagpur on her way to Gadchiroli and Warora for a week long tour. She further said that, she on her way back to Mumbai wish to stay with me at my residence for two days and these days can be utilized the way I feel appropriate. It was thus decided to hold a one day workshop for staff of SSS and one day workshop for parents of our students. It is needless to mention that she was rendering her services to SSS free of cost. Thus she arrived along with one of her friends Mrs. Vijaya Chowhan on 25th Dec' 10. She stayed at my place for about 5 hours, and after taking lunch she along with her friend left for Gadchiroli by state transport bus. She came to Nagpur back on 31st noon and got down at Sandnya Srushti, Butibori. She was there with us till evening and then we came back to my residence and she stayed for 2 days i.e. till 2nd Jan. evening.

The programme for teachers was intended to help them coup up with day to day problems of our mentally challenged students and specially their behavioral problems. This workshop was also intended to facilitate them to iron out the frictions they normally come across while they deal with colleagues. It is one of the concerns of the management. Unless all staff members work with perfect harmony and understanding, it is not possible to expect desired progress in our mentally challenged students. It is further important that all them work and think in line with the philosophy of us i.e. SSS. Mrs.Hawaldar a elderly lady did that quite successfully and made the staff relax instantly. Off course many of the staff members new Mr.Hawaldar since she was coming to us for fifth time in last 15 years.

We at Sandnya accord utmost importance to up dating of skills and knowledge of our staff so that they can always be equipped with latest techniques to meet the challenge of dealing with intellectually compensated children more effectively.

Sandnya went for a picnic

On 4th of December students, staff and parents of Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha went for a picnic to Anandwan Warora which is 100 km from Nagpur. Normally, every year students of SSS go for picnic to different place then their parents. The idea of different venue is to give freedom to parents. But this time parents also wanted to visit Anandwan and see the rehabilitation work for Lepers, all of them went for the same place. This is also the maiden time when our students traveled the longest distance of 100 km from Nagpur. It was certainly a test for our mentally challenged & autistic students and of course the test was of staff as well. Our students traveled by our own buses while parents heired a bus. Picnic is a yearly event and our children enjoy it by being with nature.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

Email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org