[edit] Beneficiaries

Project Chiguru at Shristi Special Academy supported by Vibha

Shristi, an academy for intellectually challenged and autistic individuals is perhaps a one of its kind institution in India. Since its foundation, as a non-profit social affairs organization, Shristi functions as the nerve centre of various co-related activities; focusing on the development, education, training and rehabilitation of the mentally challenged children and Autistic. Shristi has undertaken to provide Community Based Rehabilitation services to the villages of Bangalore South District around its Chennanahalli campus. The aim is to provide opportunities to those with disabilities and their families helping them to acquire education and vocational skills and thereby enjoy a better quality of life. Saathi, Prakruthy, Prayathna, Dhruthi, Dhristi and Chiguru are some of the projects undertaken by Shristi

Chiguru pre-school inclusive education program. Chiguru a pre-school for rural children concentrates on infants and preschoolers coming from 5 villages surrounding Shristi campus. These economically and socially impoverished children were found to be further disadvantaged by the lack of an Aanganwadi facility (play school/crèche),improper food habits and lack of nutritious food, lack of health measures(hygiene),unfavorable environmental conditions (unstimulating environment), no playground facilities. These factors led to inadequate early learning experiences, causing early drop out rates from school even before the completion of secondary education, due to lack of a good foundation in pre-academics. Chiguru aims to minimize these differences by providing an enjoyable preschool experience through a scientifically designed programme, aimed at building language, cognition, motor skills, social and emotional development, through play and experiential learning. It provides an enriched environment to normal and at risk children as also children with delayed development, in a nurturing and secure setup.

As part of Shristi’s community enrichment program, Chiguru, a pre-school for rural children (both normal and challenged) was started on campus in June 2004. It will provide an enriched environment for children with developmental delays through interaction with normally developing peers in a nurturing and secured set up. Chiguru also aims to provide an enjoyable pre-school experience through a scientifically designed program.

The children attend pre-school from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and have a structured program.Self care skills such as eating and toileting are part of the curriculum. Children will thus learn practices of good hygiene leading to better health. It has been seen that the families are also adopting these practices. As parent involvement and empowerment are vital components of Shristi’s programmes, training of parents in parenting skills, childcare and stimulation are planned. Shristi is hopeful that this will lead to a gradual transformation in the community and thereby a healthier and more empowered community. Children are provided a nutrient rich diet keeping in mind the poor nourishment of village children which is often inadequate, monotonous, lacking in balance and variation. The nutritious food provided was aimed at reducing recurrence of malnourishment and deficiency related diseases.

This project is currently being supported by VIBHA – USA.

VIBHA has supported and funded ($9506 in 2007) several aspects of the project such as salaries of staff, transportation of children, meal expenses etc for the last 3 years and planning to support many more years to come. In 2007, about 45 children were benefitted from this project.

All funds raised from the Dream Mile 08 event will go towards funding projects like Shristi.