ChildRaise Newsletter January to March 2019
ChildRaise Trust is committed to Disability Issues &
Empowerment of Children & Adults with Special Needs.
January 2019
1st International Conference in Education by Special Ed. Dept, SNDT, Juhu.
ChildRaise Founder, Kavita Shanbhag participated in the 1st International Conference in Education by Special Education Dept, Juhu. She was very happy to meet her professors from her alma mator institution, her colleagues & friends. (In the below snap, Kavita is presenting a copy of ChildRaise Resource Guide-Journey to Empowerment to her mentor teacher Dr. Dharmishtha Mehta who has written a Foreword to this resource Guide). ChildRaise had also put up a stall of products at the conference venue Raheja Classic Club, Andheri. In all the conference was an enriching learning experience!
Tata Mumbai Marathon 2019
We wholeheartedly thank our ChildRaise Heroes of Tata Mumbai Marathon 2019. Anvay Nadkarni who ran Full Marathon & Completed 42.195 km in 3:50:02. This was his 3rd Full Marathon and his personal best. Dr. Radhika Tonsey ran Half Marathon in full zest & throughout urged people to donate to ChildRaise. Kashyap Murthy, a software engineer by profession ran Half Marathon in support of ChildRaise & has also promised that he will be extending technical support whenever we are in need.Dr. Uday Andar & Deepa Andar ran Half Marathon in the morning & Dr. Uday Andar was invited as the dignitary speaker in the Saraswat Sammelan in the afternoon.We aren't calling him superhero without a reason. Also our regular enthusiastic bunch of supporters Pranav Chandavar, Rohan Shanbhag, Amruta Veer Shanbhag & Menaka were in full force. These Dream Runners had a lot of fun during the event cheering up fellow runners, posing with mascots & interacting with other NGO's.
Invitation to Sanvedana Epilepsy Matrimonial Meet, Pune
ChildRaise Trustee, Kavita Shanbhag was invited to facilitate the Sanvedana Foundation's Epilepsy Matrimonial Meet at Pune on 20th Jan. This was very important because there are very few organisations working for epilepsy on psycho-social aspects in India and more over with focus on marriage considering it is a very important part of any individual's life. Interested participants nearly 115 had gathered from all over Maharashtra.It was a pleasant morning in lovely Pune city, at the lush green area of Niwara. The sharing of brides and grooms with epilepsy, their parents, conveyed that how much this type of workshop was needed. Facilitators were Dr Pandurang Wattamwar, Kavita Shanbhag and Dr Manasee Deshmukh, who spent their valuable time and thoughts.
Invitation to "Reach Out" Event
Our Trustee Kavita Shanbhag reports - "When my dear friend Rekha Balgi invited me for the Reach Out event organised by her, I didn't want to miss out for many reasons. For one, to meet Rekha, Yojana Wavikar & others who are painstakingly organising these events & be part of it. Secondly, it was to be held in the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz east. Once you enter their premises, you forget you are in Mumbai because of the scenery around & feel extremely energetic as there are only positive vibes. If you have attended previous Reach out events, you will know they are edutainment. This one also had yoga, games, craft, interactive talks for kids as well as parents separately. Everyone who attended went home waiting for the next year."
February 2019
Visit to Sahayog Sangharsh
We received an email from Pese Luli to know in depth about our Disability helpline and to develop more resources for parents in their Sangharsh centre. Pese is from New Zealand, an international exchange student interning at Sangharsh. Another reason was, Sangharsh was not in our data base so this would be an excellent opportunity to visit & witness the extra ordinary work they are doing. Thus, a week back, I landed at Sahyog- a unique community based Education & Rehabilitation Centre at Hill no. 2, Gaibanshah Dargah Road, Kurla Azaad chowk,Narayan nagar, Ghatkopar west ) initiative of Chehak Trust, which caters to all the developmental needs of children with multiple disabilities. Sahyog is committed to a community based model of social change.Sangharsh is an best example of how a project, an initiative can have maximum impact with minimum resources.
Epilepsy Talk organised by Muskan Foundation Bandra
This year International Epilepsy Day was on Feb 11th. We were happy to be invited for the talk on Epilepsy for Muskan Parents & teachers in the month of Feb.The parents & teachers had some practical difficulties, medical, psycho- social questions on epilepsy which were answered during this MAPP session organised by Muskan Foundation.
Recce Visit to Veruschka Foundation
ChildRaise D Tour was scheduled on Friday, 22nd February. For the same, I recce to different organisations which are doing some extra ordinary work. Thus, I met Tatyana Dias who has founded Veruschka Foundation in memory of her late sister Veruschka. Tatyana has designed a Culinaris Cookery course for Adults with developmental Challenges, in association with St. Andrews College, Dept of Hospitality at Bandra, Mumbai. Another reason was, meeting my friends, Rekha Balgi & Aruna Sahni who have enrolled for this course along with Girish & Rishi . Girish is Rekha's 62 years old brother & most enthusiastic about this course. So indeed it was a great opportunity to make new friends, meet old ones & also taste delicious dishes made during the day. The day's menu was hot samosas & cool falooda which was irresistible.
It was also a great pleasure to attend the Graduation Ceremony of the first batch of graduates of Culinaris Cookery Course conducted by Veruschka Foundation at St. Andrew's Auditorium.
D'Tour on 22nd Feb
Our D Tour members were very eager & sat in rapt attention when we had a brief orientation at our ChildRaise Centre about D Tour. We explained that D Tour is a tour/drive to sensitise general public about disability & diversity conditions. Immediately after, we proceeded to Sai Connections founded by Kamini Lakhani. This is a centre at Bandra East for Children & adults with Autism. Here, they have recently started snacks & tiffin services comprising of simple to executive meals etc. made by the student themselves with the help from parents & support staff. We were served hot poha & coffee with lot of love. From there, we went to Metta Spa by Junaita at Hill Road, Bandra west, to enjoy the massage by visually impaired reflexologists. By the time we tackled Mumbai Traffic & reached Jhu it was time for lunch at Arpan Canteen by Yash Charitable Trust. Then we made a quick visit to Advitya- a supported workshop for developmentally challenged. It was so vibrant & full of energy that we had difficulty leaving the place. It was tea time so we had a hot cuppa of tea/coffee in a very aesthetically designed Cafe Arpan which is recently opened & complements their lunch service. In all, we came back home wanting for more.
March 2019
Khayal Trust recognises the work by CR Trustee Kavita Shanbhag
Neela Bhagwat, Khayal Co founder & doyen of Gwalior gharana interviewed & asked Kavita about ChildRaise journey on their Women's Day Programme on 3rd March. Though it was in the middle of music performances, the audience response was overwhelming.
March 21st - World Down Syndrome Day
21st March is recognised across the globe as World Down Syndrome Day. WDSD was created to advocate for those with the genetic disorder and raise awareness to issues people with Down’s syndrome face. It’s been officially observed by the UN since 2012, and events will be held in various different countries.
March 26th - Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
Celebration of the Purple Day, for epilepsy awareness, went on extremely well! It was very well organised by Epilepsy Foundation. Efforts and ideas especially by Dr Nirmal Surya and his team. We the team of Sanvedana Foundation, travelled to Mumbai with the great enthusiasm, in a very hot weather. We cooled down when we entered to the soothing environment of Bombay hospital, decorated with the purple balloons, and positive atmosphere. It was a pleasure to meet Cassidy Megan from Canada, who has started this "purple day" concept since when she was 9 years old. Felt really nice to chat with her, to listen her speech, and to listen her mother's sharing as well. Many delegates were there, including Mr Agarwal, the chief post master general, Dr Satish Khadilkar, Mr Shailesh Lodha (Tarak Meheta ka Ulata Chashma, actor) etc. So many events happened in one day! Including purple lightings on the sea-link bridge, purple lightings on Mumbai's post office building, big hoardings about this event in Mumbai, so many chief guests, more than 300 people with epilepsy with the family members etc. One very important thing was, 4 epilepsy support groups from Maharashtra were invited. We, Sanvedana Foundation from Pune, Samman from Mumbai (Kavita Shanbhag), Samvad from Nagpur (Poornima Karandikar), Uttejan from Thane, (Mrunalini, Alpa), and Jitendra came from Hyderabad all the way, who also wishes to run the support group. We, the members of support groups talked about the exclusive activities done by our groups. In the end, Epilepsy Foundation's members did entertainment programs. I congratulate Epilepsy Foundation team and Dr Nirmal Surya, for arranging such a wonderful event!
It was not only useful for us, but especially was for the 300 people sitting there, who were the people with epilepsy and their families.
It was a great moment to present Epilepsy awareness song at the Purple Day programme for Epilepsy was organised by Dr. Nirmal Surya in Bombay hospital. It was more special because the founder of Purple Day Cassidy Megan, Canada was invited for the same. Many organisations working for epilepsy came together for this event & had wonderful interaction with Cassidy & each other.
Veruschka Foundation & Blossom Disability Foundation Celebrate Purple Day with ChildRaise Trust
