2013

NGO Partner Pragat Shikshan Sanstha (10K)

Over the past 17 years, Sadhana Village operates a facility about 40 Kms from Pune near Pirangut. Sadhana village runs an innovative center for residential care of adults with mental disabilities, referred to as special friends. It works on an innovative concept of integration of mentally challenged adults with activities indigenous to rural families in the KolvanValley in Pune district. There are over 30 such adults living in four independent houses. These houses are managed by a trained live-in house leader and visiting volunteers. Perhaps the most striking feature of this initiative is that it provides a good quality of life with freedom, dignity, and affection to the neglected class of our society.

The Pragat Shikshan Sanstha (PSS) of Phaltan in Satara District about 110 Kms from Pune is a well-known organization involved primarily in educational programs from pre-primary (Balwadi) through 10th grade of high school in Phaltan. The elementary and high school enjoys wide support by the local and surrounding areas due to its high quality education, smaller size of class and dedicated teachers. PSS, in support of MF has just started a comprehensive educational and health training program named “Potli Project” for the target population of parents of infants and children under age 3 years, in the economically depressed area in and around Phaltan.

Many a times, the society fails to respond to the needs of women in difficult circumstance, for example: like widows, destitute and deserted women, women ex-prisoners victims of sexual abuse and crimes, including those trafficked and rescued from brothels, migrant or refugee women who have been rendered homeless due to natural calamities, mentally challenged women, women victims of terrorist violence etc. Often lack of family support and Social stigma drives such women out of the system to lead lives of sub human existence. More often vulnerable women in distress end up as beggars or prostitutes for their own survival and at times for survivals and maintenance of their dependent children. The SWADHAR Scheme purports to address the specific vulnerability of each of group of women in difficult circumstances through a Home-based holistic and integrated Approach. The SWADHAR Kendra offers primary need of shelter, food, clothing and care; emotional support and counseling; social and economic rehabilitation through education, awareness, skills’ up-gradation and personality development through behavioral training; and arranges for specific clinical, legal and other sup-port.

MF conducted its 3rd, annual Youth Wellness Camp for Jnana Prabodhini (Harali) students in partnership with Share and Care Foundation (SCF). During the 4-day camp, the doctors examined about 400 students. The paediatricians did thorough examinations identifying acute illness and special conditions. Overall, the students’ personal cleanliness habits were satisfactory. The camp was definitely a success in creating health awareness amongst the residential children.

Education Promotion for the Children of Waste Picker Families – Parisar Vikas is a program for the upliftment of 2000 waste picker women in Mumbai. Women are being trained in environmental entrepreneurship program which includes skills in composting, gardening, leadership development and formation of cooperative etc. They are helped in education of their children, access to micro credit, health care and hygiene, and Literacy skills.

This project is in partnership with Halo Medical foundation. The project will train self-help group members in primary maternal health care and through them promote health awareness among the pregnant women in slums of Solapur city. One trained women will cover population of 1000 i.e. the pregnant women among the 1,000.

The following Trades in the project are presently in progress: Tailoring for 20 students Gardening for 20 students Cotton Threading with Charkha for 20 students The equipment for each trade is purchased. These trades will enable students to be either employed by the traders or they can be self employed. The students are responsive and keenly interested to learn and become experts in their trades. After completion of the course, certificates will be awarded to the successful candidates and the center will try to provide employment through the placement cell, and also guide and motivate them for self employment.