24 January:
Today I met two of the most beautiful human beings. Sister E. Gaitonde, Principal, and Dr. Radhike Khanna, Vice Principal lead S.P.J. Sadhana School, an amazing school whose mission is to foster the skills of every single developmentally handicapped student who enters their doors. They work with little ones and older ones. They work step-by-step, teaching them both vocational and some academic skills. There are teachers and volunteer assistants. Every classroom has a specific focus and is clearly a safe and happy place for the children and youngsters. Some of the children are being trained to enter the workplace, others will never proceed beyond a sheltered workshop. Their website is www.yougivemewings.org, and richly deserves a chunk of your time.

After chatting with Sister Gaitonde and Dr. Khanna, I was shown around by Pradeep, a former student who now works assisting others. As he brought me from room to room and introduced me as a visitor from Canada, the teachers graciously took a few minutes of their time to tell me what was happening. I saw a grade 4 classroom where the children were learning numbers; I watched the grade 3 class as the children wrote out words in English; and I visited a class of 7 young children, 5 of whom have Downs Syndrome. There was the Art class, the Office Training, and the room where the children were stringing beads—most of whom were non-verbal. One youngster happily and proudly showed me her string of beads several times.

Many of the products they create are sold in a shop on the premises. These include hand-painted towels, key chains, embroidered shirts (they do the embroidery, then a tailor creates a garment), jewelry, gift bags, small-scale sculptures, and many more. The artifacts also go to shows around India. After 5 years of training, some of the students develop a very high skill level. Sister Gaitonde has an amazing piece hanging on her wall that definitely stands on its own as a beautiful piece of art.

Perhaps most significantly, the love and care that exudes from Sister Gaitonde is evident everywhere. And Dr. Khanna's and all the teachers' work with the children is simply extraordinarily full and big-hearted. There are volunteers everywhere, and they too are unique individuals who simply wish to help the children to develop to their fullest potential, whatever that might look like. All this is under a very clear structure, with boundaries and
techniques, with psychological counseling when needed (for both children and parents). The systems devised by Dr. Khanna years ago have evolved, and her work is highly respected around the world. She recently received a National award in ‘Public recognition of outstanding performance in the field of persons with disabilities' (Cybermoon.com, December 13, 2005)


As I said after returning from the tour with Pradeep, I am 'blown away', and can think only of how to help them and how to bring some of this valuable work to North America.

Photos of the children are not permitted, so here is one photo of the outside of the school, and one of the two great women who lead this institution, Sister Gaitonde and Dr. Khanna.