Projects » Manovikas

Manovikas is a comprehensive rehabilitation program that provides an opportunity to the handicapped children to develop large and small motor coordination and concept co-ordination skills. It also provides vocational training and self-help skills aid to these children. This special school was started in 1997 in a 30-yard basement for a few needy children. As of last year, they have relocated to a 3 storey home and have 38 students that are served by providing special training, medical treatment, therapeutic treatment, clothes, books, transportation, remedial classes, and counseling services to them, their families and the community.

Manovikas has also lobbied with other institutions have been very instrumental in the Disability Act passing in India, guaranteeing that mentally challenged children, under the age of 14, receive education and allowed admission in main stream schools. Also, they have become the Study Center for the National Institute of Open Study and the Indra Gandhi National Open University and offer the Entrepreneur Development Training Program that teaches business management to the mentally challenged!

Goals

Home of Hope plans to make the everyday lives better for the children by providing the 38 handicapped individuals means to self-sustenance. HOH continues to fund and update our speech therapy and nutrition plans over the years to make them more wholesome and effective. We plan to enrich these children's lives by providing better quality of learning, vocational training, job placement, out patient care, as well as recreational activities.

HOH's CONTRIBUTION

• HOH has funded over $45,000 to Manovikas over last 6 years
• In 2002, HOH started a candle-making project for the children, which stimulated fine motor skills, eye hand coordination and promoted vocational training
• In 2004, HOH started a speech therapy initiative by buying computers and software for speech therapy, funding for a speech therapist, and taking care of other related expenses, and the children benefited a great deal from this program and HOH continues to fund this program
• In 2005, HOH also started a nutrition plan for Manovikas, and the children get a mid- day snack and milk as a part of the program - this program has led to greater participation amongst children from poverty stricken families that improved nutrition in the children's diets
• In 2009, they opened a store on site that sells the artwork created by the children. The store is managed by Manju, a young man with Cerebral Palsy, and already they are earning Rt.10,000 a month - an outstanding story of success!