Pre-story... Why I
chose Enable India:
It has been over 2 years that I have been volunteering for
Enable India by 1.) Teaching 2 subjects “Basic Accounts” and “Volunteering” to
the Hearing Impaired students who are part of non voice BPO training for past 3
batches. 2.) Have been interpreter for a couple of times:) Today I can proudly
say that along with Hindi, English, Kannada and Marathi I also know one more
language that is “Sign language”:) I am proud of myself to have worked
closely with Visually Challenged by reading books for them, People with
Mobility problem or a Hearing Impaired or a Mentally Challenged... All this
wouldn’t have been possible if I wouldn’t have taken that step to sensitize
myself to this issue of DISABILITY...
My 2 week journey:
As part of my Sabbatical Break of Volunteering for 4 weeks I
chose to volunteer for them for 2 weeks with them... I completed my 2 week
assignments and as part of my Volunteering journey with them I was part of
Registration process of candidates (Disabled where I was specifically working
with HI’s), I did post placement survey for 1 week of Physically Disabled
candidates and their line managers at 2-3 Corporates and had a memorable end of
my 2 weeks by doing a Disability Awareness Workshop.
While writing this blog I am just recollecting those moments
especially the week where Kiran (Volunteer manager) and I as part of Post
Placement process interviewed 9 Hearing Impaired candidates and 3 Physically
Challenged and their Line Managers. It was such a different experience
altogether to hear different views, the challenges they faced, their happy
moments at work, help the candidates receive from co-workers and see things
from everybody’s point of view. We were moved to hear few stories of struggle
the candidates had gone through to reach where they are today in life,
especially the Physically disabled candidate who was carried by her Mother till
her 7th standard and how she is independent today, earning her
living by working hard in a big Corporate company and very important supporting
her family as well... Other story was where I spoke to a girl from Indore who
was so so enthu and positive in her approach and told me that I was a crawling
candidate, wasn’t even aware of usage of Mobility devices like wheel chair,
today she has won few awards in her Company for Excellent Performance, so was
the case with few HI’s who have been performing well at the same time are part
of team work, a good oneJ I have always loved the work Enable India
does and the values they believe in... They are doing excellent work on
providing employment opportunities and consulting for persons with disabilities
and am proud to be associated with them and would love to involve more and more
as a Volunteer and am already committed to be part of few opportunities based
on my availabilityJ
I suddenly remembered One of Hearing Impaired girl whom I
met for first time during the Retention process volunteering work and how she
was curious to know why I am helping and Working with Hearing Impaired or on Disability
Issue? Is it that I have someone in my family who is/was disabled or if I had
any vested interest in it??? Why??? why this question aroused, why do we need a
reason to do something good, why can’t we just do something good and change that mindset of everyone.... Have
you ever noticed that We generally don’t take any step to even go and say “ Hi”
to a Disabled around and have been major reason for them to create their own
separate world or society away from ours.... I am sure many of you too would
love to join me by working closely on Disability issue. Enable India with an
objective to bring awareness about DisAbility and in turn build inclusive
society conducts Disability Awareness Workshop. And I was lucky enough to do
one for 5 participants on last day of my Sabbatical journey with EI, where I
myself along with participants got to know our own InAbilitiesJ
Individuals interested in knowing and spreading awareness about Disability to
Public at large and enhancing their own knowledge can be part of the short
training of 2.5 hours and know more how you can bring an inclusiveness around
by contacting me anytime and I can in turn connect you with Enable IndiaJ
These 2 weeks taught me a lot personally, to never give up
and the is the only thing what any DisAbled will be expecting and hoping “Where there is a belief in my ability and Where I
stand proud and independent”.... We must respect and include people with
disability, actually respect and include everybody... Let us walk together and
make it a reality. I am sure there are many alike who would want to join
me in this journey of bringing Inclusiveness...
One day’s memorable activity with 15 angels of Makkala
Mane while Volunteering with Enable India...
I wanted to spend each and every moment of my Sabbatical
super actively to my best, so as one day there was not much to do at Enable
India, I decided to go to a place where not many volunteers reach J
Pavithra suggested that we go to Makkala Mane where we been planning to go
since long time... had gone here almost 2 years back when I had great time with
little ones and have been supporting them offline post that. Took few mins to
decide whether to go or no at this place as place was far away... But then
thought that we can anytime go to organisations inside city, will be
different/hatke to go and do something different at some place where not many
usually visit... We remembered our Shimoga trip and the colourful class rooms,
so decided to go and make kids room little colourful (thanks to our idea master
Pavithra) Reached there after a long travel by 11.30 – 12 types... Lovely day
with 15 little angels in City Outskirts.... Played few games and segregated
older ones with little ones below 5th standard... Below 5th were engaged in
drawing whatever they felt like and over 5th with us in decorating room by
making few charts on A-Z, Colours, Animals and Birds, Common Words, About Me,
Month, Year, week etc and then pasting them... Wow, how happy we both
were seeing that “Before And After of little angels room”....
Pavithra then spoke to older ones on Health and Hygiene and then we played few
more games and left the place with “Loaddddsssssssssss of Lovelyyyy
Memoriessss”... Truly Lovely day with 15 little angels in City Outskirts....
Can’t express in words how it feels when you see bringing smiles around
especially where people hardly reach to them as they are in outskirts of city
and add on happiness on hearing from Care Taker that, “ Our kids are on vacation
past 1 month, hardly anyone visit them and the kids did nothing much but sleep
or play, but today was most fruitful and resourceful day with lots of
creativity and learning, thanks to you both, can you plsss come again soon”
Few memories captured:
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