Hunger and malnutrition have become a reality for thousands of elderly parents abandoned by their own children, in villages and slums across India. Seeing the rampant distress among the elderly, a team of selfless heroes from our NGO partner Mitti Cafe, though disabled themselves, have taken up the responsibility of providing cooked meals and dry rations to over 5,000 elderly in urgent need of support. Setting aside their own struggles, Mitti Cafe’s team, led by Ayesha Alam has been relentlessly fighting to free elderly from hunger and malnutrition through its Karuna Meals initiative. The need for nutrition support is growing with each passing day and Mitti Cafe is struggling to fulfill this enormous need. With your support, the NGO and its team of persons with disability can put food on the plates of hundreds of more elderly parents. Donate generously.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), &amp; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA). Elderly deserve love, not neglect and hunger“There have been countless senior citizens, in extremely backward villages of the Sundarbans in West Bengal, who had not had a proper meal in days when we found them. We have seen people picking food from the garbage out of extreme hunger.”, recalls Ayesha of Mitti Cafe, while talking about the extent of hunger faced by senior citizens. According to Ayesha, there are thousands of elderly who have been either chucked out of their homes or have been left behind in villages by their children. “Our elderly don't deserve this life and it is our responsibility to come to their aid. If we come together we can ease the suffering of hundreds of people battling hunger and starvation. Donate now Our heroes’ war against hungerPersons with disability who were once discriminated against by society are today at the forefront of the fight to save abandoned elderly and children from hunger. The Karuna Meals team, comprising only of persons with disability has been able to cook and serve over 10 lakh meals. They have also distributed over 1 lakh packets of dry rations. ”They overlook their own struggles and suffering just to reach the elderly and provide them with the food they need,” says Ayesh. But their job is not yet done. “There are still many villages which have many malnourished and hungry seniors and we have not been able to reach them. But with your support, we can collectively end starvation,” she says. Donate now. Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help the elderly fight hunger and malnutrition.

Support Mitti Cafe’s team of disabled heroes end hunger and malnutrition for thousands. Donate now

“A blind child is seen as a curse or as a burden to the family. These children are left on the street. I have picked up children from roadsides myself. I also lost my eyesight as a child but today I am a senior officer in a public sector company. What would I have done, had I not been taken care of?” asks Veena Mehta Verma who was once a beneficiary of National Association for the Blind, Delhi (NAB) and now works with the NGO to protect and care for blind children like herself.Today, hundreds of blind children supported by NAB, Delhi have found something that they never had before–hope for a better tomorrow. Without Veena and NAB, many of these children would be at the risk of going back to the streets or spend a life of neglect and even abuse. Your support to the NGO is crucial. This Christmas, you can help her children get warm clothes and other essentials. Donate generouslyDonate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India).A life of uncertainty &amp; sufferingEven if a blind child is not abandoned they are often trapped in their homes deprived of education or any way of making a living. According to the nonprofit leader, “For a blind kid, employment is impossible without education. The (blind) kids need to learn Braille or they need ‘talking computer’ aids. Many of these kids are deprived of such facilities”.  Illuminating young lives ﻿“At NAB Delhi there are around 200-250 blind kids. There are around 180 kids in the hostel of NAB. We teach Braille, we teach arithmetic Taylor frames. To work towards a brighter future for the blind, we need your support. Please come forward and donate towards our mission”, says Veena. Students for whom NAB Delhi has cared for are today placed in some of the most prestigious organisations across the world. While some have gone on to make a name for themselves in the corporate world, others have taken up art and music as a profession too. Many blind children are bright, academically gifted, and waiting to shine, all they need is an opportunity. And your donation can give them just that.Donate to this fundraiser on Give.do, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help the blind children get shelter, education, care and a shot at a future full of opportunities.

Loving mother to 180 blind kids, visually impaired Veena needs your support in caring for them

“The major problem in society today is the stigma against mentally ill or mentally disabled people. Families feed and care for men who are mentally ill and keep them at home. But no one wants to help women with mental illnesses,” says N Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam.Sharanalaym’s ‘Jothi’ is a sanctuary for over 100 women facing mental challenges. Women with mental illness facing various challenges on the streets are brought to Sharanalayam with the help of the authorities and cared for. <img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/88597e5c-903c-4c84-8cf5-34ba9d96defd.webp" />Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Donations to this fundraiser are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India).The women at Sharanalaym Jothi are provided with necessities like food, clothing and medical care. They also get mental health services, access to psychiatrists and counseling, empowering individuals on their path to recovery.Once lost and vulnerable on unfamiliar streets, the women at Sharanalaym Jothi find solace.By supporting mentally disabled women at Sharanalaym Jothi, you contribute to creating a better world. We can ensure these women receive the care and support they deserve.Over the years, Vanitha has tried her best to run Sharanalayam from her own resources and that of her well-wishers, but the last few years have been harsh. “I normally don’t extend my hand for people to donate. Many have come on their own. But life has become a bit difficult now. I need your support to take care of the women here and also bring more women here in need of help,” says Vanitha.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/e5b9bb35-4261-4187-a4cc-d89ac34d66cc.webp" /> How Sharanalayam came into beingThe NGO started its operations in 2001 from rented premises in Pollachi in the district of Coimbatore. It started with taking care of children in difficult conditions. It slowly started taking care of mentally challenged women. Sharanalayam has come a long way since that time, with hundreds of children and women being taken care of by the NGO in the last two decades. Many women were rehabilitated by the NGO, thanks to its facilities.Sharanalayam needs urgent support to take care of over 100 women. The organisation also aspires to take care of many more mentally ill women in the coming months and years. Vanitha cannot do it without your support. <img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/37ef7f6a-11d8-4a6c-b176-41dd5b51c21f.webp" />Donate to this fundraiser on Give.do, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help abandoned mentally ill women get care and shelter. Vanitha, 70, the founder of Sharanalayam cannot do it alone.Donate now.

Help 70-year-old Vanitha provide 100+ abandoned mentally ill women with shelter and care

This is a sample description for Differently Abled. For the purpose of testing I will use the word Differently AbledDifferently AbledDifferently AbledDifferently Abled.

Differently Abled

DISHA, is a Resource Centre for Multiple Disabilities. It is a nonprofit organization, started in 1995, with 17 children, which became more than hundred with in a year. Today Disha has come a long way with its ‘inclusive approach’ in the rehabilitation, care and inclusion of children and adults with multiple disabilities. Presently Disha has over 165 children. The journey behind has inspired, motivate and above all proven us that inspite of the challenges, these special ones can overcome the barrier with empathy &amp; encouragement and they can lead a life of dignity and self respect. This is evident in the success stories of our students, winning medals at state, national and international levels, they are being placed for employment in some organizations of repute.

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

Donations through Give Foundation, Inc. a registered US 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, are tax-deductible.

Donations through GIVE, a registered charity in UK, are covered under Gift Aid

Prayati Kulshrestha

Disha Foundation

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

This nonprofit is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. This means it can accept donations from foreign nationals.

Raghav Menon

Children with disabilities deserve a life of love, laughter, and learning just as much as anybody else. Unfortunately, the ground reality is that these kids are forgotten about and stigmatized in Indian society. The story below would not have been possible without your help. Aarush (name changed) is a child diagnosed with ADHD and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). During his hyperactive episodes, he posed several challenges to his caretakers such as biting, shouting, kicking, etc. As such, he was deemed uncontrollable and his future was dire. But when the psychologists and special educators of Disha Foundation reviewed his case and began working with him, no one could have imagined his progress!&nbsp;Aarush improved his behavior, learned to get along with his classmates, and promptly listened to his teacher. He picked up on his education and fortunately lost some of the rigidity in his daily routine. Listen to Aarush's parents had to say about his journey: "Since Aarush started attending school, there has been a noticeable improvement in him. He now sits in one place, listens, and responds to our communications, and gets ready for school promptly, which was not the case before. Along with Aarush, we have also found a new direction in our lives. We hope that our child can have a better social life under your guidance. Thanks for your support." Your contributions change lives. Help us and donate now.

Impact report

Visit date: 23rd September, 2024Visited by: Ritu Jain Disha is a bastion of safety and care for the countless specially abled children that walk through its doors, and GIVE's visit to the premises only confirmed that. Our first interaction was with the project head Ms. Bharti Kunteta. She informed us about Disha Foundation's holistic approach to education, which includes workshops for parents, special community awareness programs, and training programs for teachers to manage specially-abled children. She spoke with passion of a new kind of "theater therapy" that indulged the kids creative spirits and helped them work through their disabilities. Deepak, who has down syndrome, and Rohit, who has cerebral palsy were two kids from the vocational arts class who came to take our breakfast order. They were going to prepare our meals under the supervision of the chef. After that, Neha and Prayati, staff members from Disha, took us to the classrooms where we observed the kids learning. It was incredible seeing the professionalism and specialization in the imparting of education to these kids with disabilities. The staff were motivated, driven and empathetic towards the children. Undoubtedly our favorite part of the trip was meeting the children. Although suspicious at first, they opened up in time and were full of smiles and hugs. Neha told me their individual stories and their current status. It was incredible to see the improvement after coming to Disha. When we spoke to them, they told us all about their time at Disha and remarked on how happy they were there. It was a pleasure playing and laughing with them and we cannot wait to see them again! Help us extend Disha Foundation's reach and realize the potential of even more children with disabilities. Donate now!

visit update

The lives of those diagnosed with conditions like autism need not be difficult but unfortunately end up being so. A sore lack of awareness and sensitivity of most institutions makes it difficult for the differently abled to get treatment and live a dignified life. Here, Disha school stands as a beacon of hope for the ignored and ridiculed. And we wouldn't be able to function without the efforts of our incredible donors. Take Rudra (name changed), a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Rudra was challenging to handle and seemed destined for a life without proper care or development. However psychologists and trained special educators from Disha examined his behaviors and medical records and were able to train him to handle everyday situations. Read this powerful message from Rudra's parents on his new attitude: “Since Rudra started attending school, there has been a noticeable improvement in him. He now sits in one place, listens, and responds to our communications, and gets ready for school promptly, which was not the case before. Along with Rudra, we have also found a new direction in our lives. We hope that our child can have a better social life under your guidance. Thanks for your support”. We've done incredible things for Rudra but we can't stop here. There are countless other kids just like him who can do so much in life as long as they have the right guidance. We need your help to make our dream of changing these kids lives a reality! Please help us help them. Donate now!

Dear Donors, your unwavering support is transforming the lives of 113 children with intellectual disabilities at Disha Foundation. Thanks to your generosity, these children are receiving comprehensive care, including education, therapy, vocational training classes and their parents are also receiving training and counseling. Each day, they are empowered to reach their full potential, despite challenges, ensuring they have a brighter future ahead. Swipe left to see moments from Disha Foundation's school and witness the impact of your kindness.

New Impact Update

Pradyum's journey at Disha School is a shining example of how targeted support and dedicated coaching can transform lives. Since joining Disha in 2015, he has evolved from a reserved child into an all-rounder, with a notable passion for sports, particularly Table Tennis. His progression from learning the basics to excelling in national competitions, winning gold medals in almost every interschool event, reflects not only his hard work but also the effective guidance of Disha's Sports Department. This transformation underscores the school's mission to nurture and develop the talents of children with disabilities. Disha Foundation, under the stewardship of 92-year-old PN Kavoori, has been a sanctuary for children like Pradyum, providing them with education, therapy, and the opportunity to pursue their passions. Despite facing financial challenges, the foundation continues to be a beacon of hope, empowering underprivileged children with disabilities to achieve their full potential. However, the sustainability of this noble mission is at risk. The foundation urgently needs financial support to keep providing these vital services. Donating to Disha Foundation not only helps maintain a nurturing environment for children like Pradyum but also supports the broader goal of integrating disabled children into society, enabling them to lead active, fulfilling lives. Your contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of these children, helping them transform challenges into triumphs. Support Disha Foundation in its endeavor to offer quality education, therapy, and skills training, and donate now!

Beneficiary Story

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Census 2011 has revealed that there are 2.19 crore people in India suffering from one or other kind of disability. This is equivalent to 2.1 percent of the total population. There are mainly 5 types of disabilities. These include persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor and mental disabilities. Mental disability accounts 10 percent of the total disability population. Rajasthan itself accounts for 2 percent of the disabled population in India. In India a child born with a disability is destined for a life of dependency. For the poor this burden can be extreme. Disabled children can be a social, financial, mental and physical burden to their families. Through lack of knowledge and skills of the family, the children do not get the appropriate help they need. The children do not go to school and hardly leave their homes. Therefore, they do not get the opportunity to develop mentally and physically. Some Special schools and NGOSare trying to connect with the ones who need help. These centers are struggling to provide the care needed, but with limited resources and limited skilled staff they provide rehabilitation for few hours only.   
 Disha being a premier organization in North India is working for holistic cause of rehabilitation for children and young adults with various disabilities with the inputs and efforts from other organizations as well. Holistic development means teaching the child, not just academics, about nature, about life, about being a good person.Special education is to provide each individual an environment which facilitates and maximize his/her learning abilities both academically and functionally. it involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials , accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self sufficiency and success in school and community. 
 Each individual with special needs will get an environment which facilitates and maximize his/her learning abilities both academically and functionally.

Educate a special child/adult with multiple disabilities for a month and help maximize his/her learning abilities both academically and functionally

Support Mitti Cafe’s team of disabled heroes end hunger and malnutrition for thousands. Donate now

Loving mother to 180 blind kids, visually impaired Veena needs your support in caring for them

Help 70-year-old Vanitha provide 100+ abandoned mentally ill women with shelter and care

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