Our journey: a timeline
2003
The realization of the lack of alternative approaches for those not served by conventional exam-oriented education opportunities.
Thinking begins on alternative education: curriculum development, understanding learner and parent’s expectations.
Evaluation systems.
Looking for resources.
2004
Forging important partnerships and working toward concept clarity through visits around the country.
Skill training for identified personnel for the organization conducted, to equip them with the necessary skills.
Experiments in applying experience in urban experimental schools to rural realities in Gujarat.
2005
Support to rural schools through mobile teams.
The first office space and the start of ‘Prabhat for Kids’. Begins with 3 children.
The start of Jeevan Taleem – a program for girls with special needs to learn life-skill techniques. Prabhat’s first entry into special education.
First one-month Summer Workshop for children with special needs at Ahmedabad Education Society. Huge volunteer support from private and government school teachers, bringing people with different skills on one platform
Summer Workshop leads to parents’ demand to sustain Prabhat service to children with special needs. Prabhat emerges as a need-based organization
2006
Prabhat registered as a Trust with Sec 80(G) recognition.
First meetings of Prabhat’s Board of Trustees.
Prabhat is given space in a mainstream school to start a Centre for special children at its premises.
2007
Door-to-door survey begins on special needs in eastern Ahmedabad, identified for its concentration of need.
Prabhat opens its first Centre in this location in rented space, overcoming challenges of stigma and denial. By year-end, 35 children enroll at the Maninagar Centre which also reaches out to nearby communities.
The first psychological assessment, counselling and homeopathy camp organized at Maninagar Centre.
2008
Point of break-even reached for Jeevan Taleem program.
First Summer Workshop – 10 days of fun for children with special needs, organized through parents and municipal school authorities. First interaction with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). AMC school gives space for Summer Workshop. Government officials visit and encourage Prabhat.
Guidance effort starts to assist parents of special children to avail Government schemes.
Increasing participation at the Maninagar Centre, including through ‘OPD-type’ enquiries and counseling.
Purchased a second hand car to ferry children
2009
Big changes seen among parents, from hopelessness to active participation and questioning on behalf of their children.
Attendance of parents (including fathers) increases at Prabhat trainings and meetings.
A ‘buddy interaction’ initiative starts with Riverside School to bring mainstream and special children together as partners and friends.
The first few children move from Prabhat Centres into mainstream schools and ITI for vocational opportunities.
The concept of Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) initiated in response to need, working with neighborhoods toward awareness, respect and greater self-reliance.
The Summer Workshop experiment: siblings, neighborhood children, children from mainstream schools are invited along with children with special needs. 170 children participate in this event, the first of its kind. A great success and a wonderful demonstration of inclusion that is Prabhat’s mission!
Riverside school organized a painting auction for Prabhat. The paintings on sale were made by Prabhat and Riverside children.
All Prabhat’s children received educational kits including school bags from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The first internship program with 40 students from CU Shah and St. Xaviers College.
Prabhat started availing specialized services of therapist, audiologist and ophthalmologist for the benefit of the children
Welcomed teachers from mainstream schools into Prabhat Centres to spend time with the children teaching them drawing, dance, music, etc.
Entire team from Prabhat along with the children celebrated Joy of Giving week with members of an old age home
2010
Three clear areas of Prabhat programming emerge, with strengthened donor guidance and support:
Centres: for weaker sections as well as those who can afford fees. Prabhat learns a lot from these interactions with parents, communities and experts.
Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR),
Advocacy: NGOs, local authorities, schools, colleges, and hospitals contacted for referral services, linkages and joint effort. Volunteer and intern opportunities strengthened. Awareness and training program initiated.
Prabhat children admitted to three mainstream schools, including municipal schools. This is a big breakthrough!
Remarkable changes emerge in attitudes of communities and neighbourhoods towards special children and their needs.
Vocational units started selling their products. The kites made by the children received rave reviews and was a big hit.
Strong partnership with Unnati, they helped in Prabhat’s capacity building and provided fellowships for few of the staff at Prabhat.
2011
Strategies innovated for increased community participation. One of the most successful is the ‘Dehlu’ program introduced to support CBR, with community-supported spaces bringing services close to the home with local participation.
Growing recognition of Prabhat from State authorities, including Social Welfare Dept of Govt of Gujarat.
First Exhibition and sale: proceeds were encouraging
Participate of Prabhat’s children in Special Olympics organized by the Gujarat Government for the first time, bagging several prizes.
2012
Adopt a Child scheme introduced, and 6 children adopted.
Organized first Aids and appliance camp at Shah-E-Alam, with support from local NGOs.
2013
3 Early Intervention (EI) cells started in mainstream schools, catering to 76 children
Early Intervention program started at Maninagar Centre
Improved quality of festive products made by Prabhat children to demonstrate skills and self-reliance. Higher demand from cooperating institutions and outlets.
Start work with 146 anaganwadis
155 children prepared to attend mainstream schools through support from AMC and SSA under the School Readiness Program.
Self-help Group concept introduced within all Prabhat programs.
Special trainings for Govt IED-BRP, RP and care-givers nominated by AMC and SSA conducted by Prabhat
Students from NID interned with Prabhat
Prabhat was selected as the beneficiary for the prestigious Motif Charity walk
2014
Prabhat moves into Lambha Ward, one of the most challenging wards in Ahmedabad.
Medical camps conducted for check-ups, counseling and distribution of aids and appliances in cooperation with donors and hospitals, through aggressive networking efforts.
First MoU signed with overseas donors, under FCRA.
2015
CBR starts in Lambha Ward, extending Prabhat’s earlier experience in Danilimda Ward with baseline survey, social mapping and door-to-door survey of PWDs with local partners.
Rojgar Mela organised with partners for hearing-impaired and speech-challenged persons. Employment confirmed in companies for 45 persons.
Prabhat started working with Composite Regional Centre for PwDs, Odhav Ahmedabad: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
Danilimda Centre, reopened at a new location.
2016
Services and other rehabilitation facilities are now being extended to almost 5 lakh people from Lambha, Vatva, Danilimda and Behrampura ward.
A grand celebration called Dosti Divas (celebrating friendship) was organized by Riverside school in partnership with Prabhat at the Sabarmati River front.
Started a Learning difficulty (LD) Centre at Indiranagar, Lambha.
Three reputed artist from Bombay offer a fund-raising and advocacy event for Prabhat – Art4All exhibition and sale at ‘Ahmedabad Ni Gufa’ takes Prabhat’s message to a new audience.
First Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) collaboration (MoU) with Jacobs.
2017
Red Fm campaign, raised almost 30 lakhs through the campaign
Awarded the Rockefeller Grant for Leadership for a period of two years
Set-up the first registered office
Developed a robust and extensive Data Management System
Resource Rooms set up in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat
New Website launched, with new friends and supporters of Prabhat – Maxtudio at Rome
28 more children being reached under the Home-based Intervention
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Organized medical camps at various locations in Ahmedabad on behalf of the Government of Gujarat under the Prime Minister’s scheme operated by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
New collaboration with Dr. Sanjiv Mehta Hospital
Buddy Interaction with Riverside School completed 10 successful years
2018
Setup the first Prosthetics and Orthotics Unit in the community
First Photo Exhibition (Like Us) of Prabhat by Bindi Sheth at Kastubhai Lalbhai Museum. Inaugurated by Ms. Anjali Ela Menon
Buddy Interaction model travels to 2 more schools
Team travels to different cities knowledge sharing and capacity building
First Professional films made for Prabhat documenting Early Intervention, Home-Based Rehabilitation and Buddy Interaction
Upgraded important communication material
2019
Like Us invited to be displayed at NID, Gandhinagar
First training for officers from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Like Us invited to be displayed at India International Centre, New Delhi
Organized the first workshop on Communication with focus on developing a Website.
Therapy unit set-up in the community
2020
Working under the pandemic and lockdown
Served over 2000 people with ration and food
Adopted digital teaching and learning tools to reach children at home
Innovation at developing teaching material to be used over video calls
Learnt how to provide online physiotherapy/exercise trainings
Made over 1500 handmade masks with the help of parents
Learnt online/work from home techniques
Conducted first phone based survey on covid impact
Opportunities of capacity building workshops with organizations and individuals across the world
Forced to close down the Centres
Set-up 3 new dehlus (small community based centres)
Increased love and support received from donors, well-wishers and friends new and old