Asha Seattle Chapter New Project Proposal April 2014 Amar Seva Sangam

Amar Seva Sangam - Introduction Mission : Empowering the physically challenged citizens and rural women by establishing a 'Valley for the physically challenged and Women' as a Rehabilitation and Development Centre for the region and developing models for self-help initiatives by Educating and integrating the disabled individuals and women with the society for improved living conditions in the village Vision : Establish a Valley for the Disabled, whereby physically/mentally challenged persons live in a pro-active society where equality prevails irrespective of physical, mental or other challenged with the rest of the society. It is a futuristic vision whereby Amar Seva Sangam plays the role of an enabling agent to get the physically/mentally challenged “equality of status, equality in opportunities and equality in access”. It is a society where people are identified as differentially abled. Organization: Started in Amar Seva Sangam first took shape as a charitable organization, offering shelter to individuals with physically challenges. Founder: Founded in 1981 by Mr. S. Ramakrishnan, himself a quadriplegic, and grew under the ongoing leadership of Mr. S. Sankara Raman, who is confined to a wheelchair due to Muscular Dystrophy. Location: Located in Ayikudy Village, 45 minutes drive from Thirunelveli Airport, in Tamilnadu. [Flight from Chennai, India to Thirunelveli is only an 1 hour]. The institution has grown to occupy a 30-acre campus and now serves 330 villages in the surrounding area. Core Objectives –To involve the local communities in the decision making process –To enable persons with physical challenges to become independent and assertive –To extend the current physical rehabilitation program to social and economical integration. –To establish democratic people-level institutions for proper utilization of the infrastructure created in the Sangam and make it a “Valley for the physically challenged”

Amar Seva Sangam - Introduction Several grants, donors and loans and investments. Notable among them are: Bhatia Award 1994; The National Award 2002; Tamilnadu State Award 2004 Helen Keller Award 2005; National Award for Child Welfare-2005 One of the CNN Heroes out of 18 Awardees -2007, 12th Mahaveer Award-2005 for the Social and Community Welfare 2011, Rs. 25 lacs distributed by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Ex- President of India – Jindal Prize; Dhuruva Award to the Secretary KRIA Rotary Metro Exemplary Award to the Secretary Today, Amar Seva Sangam is a premier institution in the field of Disability Management in the country. Strong performance in all of their activities in making the impact to the people they serve Continue to have income less than expenses in the past few years given the increased expenses for all of their activities. Strong balance sheet. Amar Seva Sangam’s Website: Asha for Education – Amar Seva Project Site: Latest Annual Report (MUST REVIEW): Latest Site Visit Report :

Amar Seva Sangam –As of March 2013 Statistics

Amar Seva Sangam–Activities Rehabilitation Activities –Home Care: The Live-In-Home shelters severely disabled children who require thorough care. These children are given accommodation, food, medical attention, a school education, and vocational training. A Home for the polio affected poor children with accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, appliances and education, all free –Sangamam School for Special Children - Day-Care Centre for Special Children to train them self-care in hygienic activities and basic literacy. The parents are also trained as to how to treat their wards once they are discharged (also refer to slide 8) –Orthotics Center: Manufactures, Repairs and Services Calipers. –Medical Evaluation Unit for Disabled: Started with aid from Govt. of Japan, unit offers free of service to everyone who visits with a need for evaluation –Spinal Cord Injured Post-Acute care center, started in 2007 –Sarva Siksha Abhayam, A Central Government Project, which was allotted to Amar Seva to serve 7 blocks of Thirunelvi district under the scheme to provide aids to physically challenged –Vazhikattum Thittam (to show a path): Another Government scheme for servicing at the grass root level and Amar Seva serves 6 blocks of the district. –Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam (new life scheme): World Bank aided TN government project managed by Amar Seva Sangam –Rehabilitation Center for conducting various community activities for the challenged

Amar Seva Sangam–Activities  Vocational Training  Tailoring, Toys, Paiting for the disabled  Notebook making  Wheel Chair / Tricycle section  Typewriting Center  Computer/Information Technology  Education  Nursery and Highschool  Sivasankari Public Library  Indra Gandhi National Open Universiry Special Study Center  Alagappa University Study Center  Education for Empowerment  Village Based Rehabilitation Programme  Help disabled individuals model their own rehabilitation responsibilities & help communities  Vibrant and proactive disabled communities have been formed and over 300 self-help groups have been formed  Coves 800 villages, 1.7 Milion population, disabled individuals in 9 blocks of the district

Amar Seva Sangam –As of March 2013 Statistics – All projects

Amar Seva Sangam – Sangamam School for Special Children – supported via Asha Seattle

Site Visit by independent consultant

Asha STAR Collections Item2013 collection 2012 collection 2011 collection 2010 collection2009 collection Asha Star Donors Donation $2456$4337$ $ $ o New Project Proposal $4000 was sent out in early 2014 as part of one-time 2013 buffer disbursements