60
In 2006, the Mutually Beneficial Activities (MBA)
Foundation created an Early Intervention Clinic and
Prevocational Training Unit in Powai, India. The aim
was to help children with disabilities from disadvantaged
backgrounds whose families cannot afford to
pay for therapy. Due to its proximity to our site and
the positive impact it brings to the community, AAK
Kamani is proud to support an additional facility,
built in 2016, that focuses on educating the parents.
The Powai facility provides much needed therapy,
developmental assistance and even medical intervention
for children who would otherwise simply not have
access to this kind of care. Over the last year, AAK
Kamani has been helping to support this much needed
initiative, which has been a lifeline for many families in
the area.
The Early Childhood Intervention Clinic focuses on
children aged 2–11 years. Individual action plans are
made for each child depending on their special needs,
which are strictly followed with the help of occupational,
physio, speech therapists and special educators.
Regular progress reviews are held with parents, so that
any course amendments can be affected immediately.
The Prevocational Training Unit is for disabled
children aged 12–17 years, where they are taught many
day-to-day skills such as clock reading, money usage,
and shopping, which are essential for vocational skills
training when they reach 18 years of age. Those who
can be educated are also coached in the NIOS syllabus
to write the tenth-class exams.
Raising awareness for parents
The clinic and training unit have proved invaluable
and many children have shown great improvements
in mobility, communication and other skills. However,
in the region there is a general lack of awareness
about the benefits that this kind of support can provide.
Because of this, a new facility was set up in Sangarsh
Nagar in 2016 to educate parents about their children’s
difficulties and the difference this kind of therapy can
make to their lives.
The Sangarsh Nagar area comprises of more than
250 buildings built for lower-income families under
the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. With low levels of
education amongst adults, it can be difficult to convince
parents from the area about the benefits that early
intervention therapy can offer. However, once they see
the positive results in their children’s development,
everything changes.
Supporting a brighter future
Today, there are 27 children who are being taken care
of at the facility. Working with these children at an early
age helps them to achieve the best possible level of
development, so they can integrate into the community
and improve their lives. At AAK Kamani, we will continue
to support this wonderful institution and help disadvantaged
children to achieve even more for their future.
AAK Kamani, India
Giving children a better chance in life
60