Taylor & Francis India have associated with the Family of Disabled in 2012 as a part of their CSR project. Family of Disabled is an NGO and a registered charitable trust engaged in the service of people with disabilities since 1992. Being a cross-disability organization, FOD serves people with different disabilities.
On 14 March 2012, 41 T&F India colleagues came together for a day-long volunteering with 40 children; in the age group of 5 years to 15 years with special needs. T&F India liaised with the Family of Disabled, who collaborated with Aashirwaad; a school for mentally challenged students at Nasirpur village, New Delhi. The 40 children were accompanied by 10 teachers and 4 parents. These children do not have opportunities to go to places, such as the zoo or the children’s park; because they cannot move around on their own and lack of funds often forces them to lead their life within the school walls or mental institutes.
The entire team of 100 people went to the National Zoo in the first half of the day and the Children's Park in the second half of the day. Each T&F India employee took charge of one student, who they mentored through the day; carrying them, feeding them, walking with them, telling stories, interacting….it was worth watching. The look on the faces of children as they saw real animals and climbed swings was the best reward for each one of us ever.
When the group saw the children for the first time, there were varied expressions on everyone’s faces – most definite one being that of stunned silence. It probably made them realize that the life that they lead is so much more accomplished and happier and that there are many children and people in this world, who probably do not get a change to life a privileged life like them. The children looked at us with a big smile and sparkle in their eyes; no malice, no expectations – just pure love.
The first step was to break ice – with food. The volunteers and children sat together eating bananas and drinking juices; getting introduced to each other. We then proceeded with the tour of the zoological park. All volunteers had visited the zoo at some of time in their life but the joy of showing different animals and birds to the children was priceless since this was perhaps the first time most of the children were seeing animals they had only heard of or seen on TV. There were excited squeals on spotting a tiger well-camouflaged in its enclosure, on seeing Kiwis run about, and lots of photos with an elephant in the background relaxing under an enormous umbrella.
With a nice lunch together, we moved to the next venue --- Children’s Park. With various swings, slides and see saws around to play with, the children not only played on them but also dragged some volunteers to join them on some fun rides, which most volunteers were very happy to do.
After the entire day's excitement and activities, the T&F India team said goodbye to children by gifting them coloring books and crayons as parting gifts and big hugs and goodbye kisses.
Taylor & Francis India now sends all its newspapers and magazines to the Family of Disabled workshop where these are turned into envelopes by disabled people and sold to make a livelihood. Moreover, after the volunteering, ten employees till now have come forward to donate wheelchairs, Pediatric wheelchair, tricycles and walking sticks. These will be donated at a special annual ceremony of the Family of disabled on 29th April 2012.
Our annual end-of-the–year cards are also being designed by a disabled artist, who is a gold medalist in painting. A donation box from Family of Disabled is kept at the office reception. On every festival and auspicious day, the first money to be spent is dropped into the box. We have recently printed 5000 flyers complimentary of the FOD to be consumed at various forums. These will also be used with our mailings through the year; to promote the cause of the NGO.
Our annual end-of-the–year cards are also being designed by a disabled artist, who is a gold medalist in painting. A donation box from Family of Disabled is kept at the office reception. On every festival and auspicious day, the first money to be spent is dropped into the box. We have recently printed 5000 flyers complimentary of the FOD to be consumed at various forums. These will also be used with our mailings through the year; to promote the cause of the NGO.
All our official letter heads used for marketing will now carry the following line in the end:
T & F India supports Family of Disabled
A registered charitable trust engaged in
the service of people with disabilities
since 1992. http://familyofdisabled.org/
More than volunteering, the participants on the way back discussed ways and means of getting more involved with the Family of Disabled; thus hoping to give back to the community, a part of what they have gained from it.
In all, a very satisfying day.
Meeting Point 'National Zoological Park'
The Perfect Ice-Breaker – ‘SNACKS’
We spotted the Tiger, Kiwi, Elephant and so much moreeee..
Lunch..!!!
Children's Park
Parting Gifts
The Entire team :)
The Smiles Say it All!!
