Education India Project #48200

Enable children with disabilities in Indian slums.

by OSCAR (Organization for Social Change, Awareness and Responsibility) Foundation

Project Report | Jan 12, 2021
The growth & uptake of the OSCAR 'Enabling Change' disability programme

By Lucinda Sowerbutts | Head of Operations - OSCAR International

The OSCAR 'Disability Inclusion Project' is aimed at helping children with disabilities participate in football and life skills sessions in a safe environment. The OSCAR Foundation coaches and young leaders deliver specially designed activities and football sessions keeping in mind the individuals specific disability. We are very proud this project has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, teachers and children. It has a gender ratio of nearly 40%, which is especially encouraging considering girls with disabilities are at greater risk of being marginalised in society.

During the pandemic, all OSCAR activities have been adapted and modified for effective online delivery. This has been particularly challenging in our work with the 'special schools'. OSCAR works in collaboration and not independently of the school and closure has meant the OSCAR team has taken a very proactive approach to keeping the children engaged.

The funds raised through the GlobalGiving platform have provided the schools, including the Bombay Institute for Deaf and Mutes, with computers to ensure pupils can continue with their online learning. Access to the internet and computers is paramount and limited supply makes beneficiaries disproportionately at risk of dropping out. OSCAR's concern is the difficulty of reengaging children who drop out of education, so a concentrated focus has been on preventing this.

The Disability programme places emphasis on supporting the parents of children living with disabilities, helping them to provide the necessary care to their children who do not conform to societal norms. OSCAR's trained staff continue to work closely with and guide parents, which has seen the programme develop beyond the individual to include the family and local community.

An OSCAR beneficiary is a young boy called, Sufiyan, who is deaf and mute and lives with his mother and two sisters. One sister is also deaf, mute and a slow learner. His mother works as a cook and earns Rs3,000 per month, approx 40USD. Sufiyan loves to play OSCAR football and it is this engagment in sport that has developed his confidence and made his family very proud. Sufiyan has become a role model for his sister, children in his special school and the wider community.

One key young fundraiser for the campaign, Aanya, based in New Jersey USA, is launching a podcast to further support the OSCAR Disability fundraising campaign. In addition the campaign has created a demand for a dedicated OSCAR Child Sponsorship for Children with Disabilities, which is due to be launched in February 2021.

During this unprecendented time OSCAR is particularly proud of all staff and beneficiaries who have shown incredible resilience and ability to adapt to the moving landscape. Lockdown and the closure of schools has provided the management team with time to plan for the future and with the support of GlobalGiving we are confident the programme will continue to go from strength to strength.

We want to show our gratitude and thanks to all our wonderful GlobalGiving donors for their support, which will enable us to reach out to many more children like Sufiyan and to pave the way for a positive, happy and fulfilling journey for many children living with disabilities.

The OSCAR team.

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