In January 2023, Christoph Künzle, Angela Collenberg and Livia Furler traveled to India and got to know the various interventions of SACRED. They came home with a head full of impressions and a deep respect for the effective work done by the staff of SACRED.
The non-governmental organization was founded in 1994 by Mr. Thippanna and still supports people with a disability and their families. The following graphic shows an overview of SACRED's activities.
SACRED trains people with disabilities to become rural development workers (RDW). During the training they receive basic knowledge in social work, physiotherapy, speech therapy and group leadership.
The RDWs visit the villages in the region, identify adults and children with disabilities and form self-help groups (SHG).
These include "parent-child groups." These meet once a month and share information about their child's progress and current challenges. Furthermore, knowledge about aids and treatment options is shared and parents are instructed on how to support their children at home. Parents told us that without SACRED, they and their children would have no support and would be on their own. In the SHG they can support each other. Through SACRED, they have also learned about the rights of children with disabilities and that they too can grow up with dignity.
During a visit to one of the five day care centers, the parents told us how happy they are that their children can visit this facility before and after school. This enables them to go to work and thus secure income for the family. Furthermore, the children can learn a lot at the daycare center and always come home in a good mood. We were impressed by how little play material is available: everything fits into a bag (see photo).
With a lot of enthusiasm we are working to support SACRED with the transfer of expertise and also financially, so that their valuable work can continue.
In February, we received videos from people who are supported by the SACRED program and their professionals.
BALAKRISHNA
HANUMANTHU
MYTHILI