Vanakkam (greetings) from Ayikudy, India,
Well, I am mid way through my stay at Amar Seva Sangam, a centre for disability in Southern India, and all I can say is that it has been quite the experience so far! After three days of travel, three flights, one train and two rickshaw rides I found myself on the amazing campus of Amar Seva Sangam in the small village of Ayikudy, Tamilnadu. We are just two hours north of the southernmost tip of the country.
I was immediately impressed with the scope of the campus. They have three schools (two integrated and one for children with mental disabilities), hostels for disabled children and youth, a satellite university, vocational training sector, spinal cord unit, rehabilitation and medical facility and prosthetic and orthotic fitting centre all established on site. The campus and surrounding area are beautiful and peaceful, such a contrast to the chaotic cities of India.
Their mission is to create a “Valley for the Disabled”, where people with disabilities are empowered through various self-help initiatives to become fully integrated into society. It is estimated that 90% of disabled children in India do not receive any form of education; Amar Seva Sangam is working to change this by creating models for integration and developing various socioeconomic programs to support the families of children with disabilities.
Upon arrival, they immediately put me to work on a variety of projects. I have been dividing my time between hosting education sessions and workshops with the physiotherapists in the rehabilitation centre and developing proposals for the centre director in the administrative department. I also get to spend lots of time with the children that live on campus; they are amazingly inspiring. I have never been surrounded by so many children so full of joy, it’s contagious!
Highlights of my trip so far have included participating in a rally on World Disability Day and running in the Dream Run portion of the Mumbai Marathon. I was also fortunate to be invited to an awards banquet hosted by CNN/IBN7 where our centre director, Mr. Sankara Raman, received a Super Idol Award for his work in the disability sector. It was an honour to be a part of such an exciting event.
I am enjoying the experience immensely but I sure miss Moveo, our Team and all of our fantastic clients! I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to connecting upon my return in March.
~ Robyn Smith
