Amazing grace

Observing poverty, inequality, disadvantage around them, some of the more committed individuals in society are spurred to sow seeds of usefulness that over the years grow into trees sheltering the disabled and infusing them with strength to branch out. Some of the better known charities that have initiated worthy projects deserving support are but briefly referred to here because they have been covered in earlier issues of Parsiana. We intend in future issues to cover more such organizations.

Akanksha was founded by Shaheen Mistri over 15 years ago to impact the lives of the disadvantaged children. Observing that there are thousands of people like young collegians who are talented, skilled, trained, educated and an even higher number of children who have no one to assist or coach them, she thought of bringing them together. Over 50 centers of Akanksha are striving to support disadvantaged children by giving them a strong educational foundation, good time, self esteem, values and guidance on how to earn a steady livelihood.

Besides funds they need volunteers or underutilized spaces where they can run their centers and programs. Aid to Akank­sha may be sent to Voltas House C, T. B. Kadam Marg, Chinch­pokli, tel: 23729880, 23700253, e-mail: hr@ akanksha. org

Childline was founded in 1996 by Jeroo Billimoria as the country’s first toll-free, tele-helpline for street children in distress. Billimoria initiated this movement as an experimental project of the Family and Child Welfare Department at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Today it has become a nationwide emergency helpline that operates in 73 cities. In 10 years Childline has worked with over three million kids in need of care and protection. The children remember the emergency number 1098 (dus-nau-aath) and feel confident to dial for help when they are ill, have met with accidents, when they are lost, want to return to their family, are being abused, in need of shelter, or seeking guidance.

Children at Akanksha (left) and at The Happy Home and School for the Blind

Although it is now supported by the Government’s Ministry for Women and Child Development, Childline is constantly in need of manpower and financial assistance. Donations made to "Childline India Foundation” could be specifically earmarked for helping children in distress, responding to children in distress, sensitization and awareness programs, children’s emergency and rehabilitation fund, infrastructure set-up or corpus. Indian citizens can avail of tax exemption of 50 percent (under section 80G) for a contribution below Rs 5,000 and 100 percent (section 35AC) for a contribution above Rs 5,000.

Their registered office is at Nana Chowk Municipal School, second floor, Frere Bridge, Low Level, Nana Chowk, Bombay 400007, tel: 91-022-23881098/23841098, www:childlineindia.org.in

Liaison Committee for Organisation of Parsi Charities and Social Services is a family and children’s welfare agency controlled by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, rendering services in the field of health, education, welfare and family support. They do sewing work at their small work center and later sell the stitched sudrehs, pyjamas, dusters, kustis, etc. Meticulous case investigations are carried out on behalf of different trusts to ensure that Parsi charities are not abused.

They organize children’s activities like holiday camps, New Year functions, winter outings, distribution of exercise books and stationery, gift packets besides counseling services for parents and children.

Those interested in purchasing their products or making contributions can contact their honorary secretary R. K. Lalkaka or executive secretary Adi H. Billimoria at Sir H. C. Dinshaw Industrial Institute Building, Chikalwadi, 275-V, Tardeo Road, Bombay 400007, tel: 23882748. For administrative convenience the cheque should be drawn in favor of "Bombay Parsi Punchayet, A/c Moffussil Anjuman” and sent to the Liaison Committee address.

Sunbeam, started by Khurshid Dabdi in 1999, aims to transform the lives of underprivileged children by giving them an opportunity to realize their full potential.

With space donated by the education officer in Bombay Municipal Corporation schools and private rooms taken on nominal rent, they conduct formal education classes for children between six and 15 years of age. Beyond that, up to graduation, they sponsor 50 percent of the college and private coaching fees. In Worli they reach out to 550 children and in Bandra (east), 450 children. Weekly sports sessions and computer classes as also recreational activities are eagerly awaited by the children.

Donations for this cause may be sent to Sunbeam, 309, Zaveri Building, second floor, Room No 15, Charni Road, Bombay 400004; tel: 23867796.

The Astad Deboo Dance Foundation was started in 2002 to provide training and impart skills in the performing arts to the disabled and deaf community; to promote art and culture among this community; to provide scholarships and aid to talented deaf performers and to facilitate partnerships between the deaf community and the corporate world. An integral part of the aims of the Foundation is to document the work in order to create a knowledge base for future work, self-assessment, dissemination and training. In the long term the Foundation will endeavor to develop a center where these activities will take place on a sustained basis and where the materials generated by the various projects will be permanently housed.

Support for the Foundation can be sent to Pandey House, 94B August Kranti Marg, Bombay 400004; tel: 91-22-56640444, 23851546, fax: 23884520.

Gaining new insights at the Happy Home and School for the Blind

The Happy Home and School for the Blind was started in 1925 by Coomi Sohrab Bharoocha at the B. D. D. Chawls in Worli where the cramped premises served as classrooms by day and dormitory by night. Tragic events in her early adulthood made Bharoocha dedicate herself to the cause of the blind until the last week of her 90-year-old life.

The School, now functioning from its spacious premises on Annie Besant Road, is presently being steered by Meher Banaji who after three decades as principal has taken over as resident director. Nearly 200 children ranging in age from three to 20 are taken through the academic paces from nursery until they pass their school leaving SSC examination. As most boys come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the School not only provides for their basic academic needs but also costs of medication and transport since the children are sent home every Friday and return on Sunday evenings.

Donations favoring "Happy Home and School for the Blind” may be sent to 1/A, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Bombay 400018; tel: 24923198.

The Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deafblind in Bombay was formed in 1977 by Beroz Vacha often referred to as the "mother of Indian sign language” for her role in opening up a whole new world for the deafblind in India with the concept of total communication that includes touch in addition to sign language and finger spelling sentences in the palm.

Although a licensed pilot by the age of 25, Vacha realized that her true calling was not flying but teaching the deafblind. She worked for The Education Audiology and Research Society as principal before she started her own institute at a municipal building in Byculla with three students. Now functioning in the more spacious Aditya Birla Centre at Vashi with infrastructure that includes a swimming pool for hydrotherapy, occupational therapy facilities, indoor gymnasium and classrooms, they presently have 80 deaf and 35 deafblind children. In 1996 Sense International India, a branch of the UK based international organization for the deafblind sent Vacha on a fund-raising trip across Europe for the construction of the Vashi center.

Donations in the name of the institution may be sent to CC-I, TTC, MIDC, Shil Mahape Road, Navi Mumbai 400710; tel: 27782193, 27782214, 27781226.