About NGO:

Apnalaya is a secular 38 years old ngo, working mainly in Govandi in m/e ward of Mumbai. The core focus of Apnalaya is community organisation & development with intervention in health, education, including disability, with view to empower community groups to evolve and seek solutions for their own problem. It is committed to improving the quality of life of the urban poor in Mumbai. Most of Apnalaya's work is the unathorised communities surrounding the Deonar dumping gorund, where the living condition is appalling and there are no basic amenities.

Apnalaya's main focus of the work in 8 communities in shivaji nagar. Employes marothan go staff. Apnalaya's approach is to work with people rather than for them helping them to identfy & respond to local needs through community participation & using local resourses. Apart form the provision of direct services like creche & clinics. Apnalaya takes a longer view.

Fund Usage:

CHALLENGER PROJECT FOR DISABLED:
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 2% OF THE POPULATION IS CHALLENGED - EITHER PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY OR BOTH. IN COMMUNITIES WE WORK WITH, IT IS FAR MORE THAN THAT. APART FROM THEIR DISABILITY, THEY FACE DISCRIMINATION, TOTAL ABSENCE OF ANY SERVICES, POOR HEALTH SERVICES, POVERTY AND IGNORANCE DUE TO LACK OF EDUCATION.
APNALAYA INITIATED ITS CHALLENGER PROJECT A FEW YEARS AGO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DISABILITY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. MASS AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUE, SMALL GROUP MEETINGS TO SENSITIZE KEY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND EVENTUALLY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS PARTICULARLY CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY AT EARLY STAGES AND THEN PROVIDE THEM ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTH AND LIVELIHOOD IS THE STRATEGY USED. WE ALSO AIM AT PREVENTING DISABILITY IN NEW BORN THROUGH PARENT'S EDUCATION AS WELL AS BETTER HEALTH SERVICE ACCESS.
SHIVAJI NAGAR, GOVANDI HAS AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 600000. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT TO ONLY 338 CHILDREN IN THIS VAST COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE A DAY CARE CENTRE FOR THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY, WHICH PREPARES THEM FOR FORMAL SCHOOLING-EITHER IN ORDINARY SCHOOL OR IN SPECIAL SCHOOL. PRESENTLY, 15 CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN THIS DAY CARE CENTRE WITH HELP OF 2 TEACHERS AND ONE HELPER. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SPONSORSHIP TO THOSE WHO ARE STUDYING, MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO NEED, VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO LEARN & LASTLY ANY OTHER SUPPORT THEY MAY NEED TO LIVE A FULFILLING AND HAPPY LIFE.
APNALAYA ALSO HELPS THESE CHILDREN TO ACCESS NECESSARY DOCUMENTS LIKE BIRTH CERTIFICATES, RATION CARDS, DISABILITY CERTIFICATES, ETC. SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO AVAIL THE OTHER SERVICES OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS, RESERVATIONS, TRAVEL CONCESSIONS, ETC.

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROJECT:
THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIAN SOCIETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOWER, HOWEVER MUCH THE PROGRESS MADE BY WOMEN IN MANY FIELDS IS WIDELY EXPERIENCED BY ALL OF US.
THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES FACE MANY CHALLENGES. THE FEMALE FETICIDE, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THEM IN SHARING OF FOOD OR ACCESSING EDUCATION, LOW PRIORITY TO THEIR OWN HEALTH, IMPORTANCE OF A BOY CHILD, VIOLENCE & ABUSE FACED BY THEM WITHIN THE FAMILY & EVEN IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES.
APNALAYA HAS INITIATED VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN CONSULTATIONS WITH THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES. THESE INCLUDE A FAMILY COUNSELING CENTRE WHICH PROVIDES COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVICE AND ALSO COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE FACING PROBLEMS IN FAMILY LIFE, SUPPORT & NECESSARY MEDICAL & LEGAL HELP TO WOMEN WHO FACE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING, WHO ARE FACING PROBLEMS.
APNALAYA HAS ALSO INITIATED 30 SHG'S (SELF HELP GROUPS OR POPULARLY CALLED BACHAT GAT) WHERE WOMEN SAVE & LEND MONEY WITHIN THE GROUP AT LOW INTEREST EVERY MONTH. SOME OF THESE GROUPS HAVE GONE BEYOND THESE ACTIVITIES AND ARE NOW RUNNING MEDIUM SIZED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHICH ENHANCES THE INCOME OF ITS MEMBERS.
APNALAYA ALSO IS TRYING TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ISSUES FACED BY SINGLE WOMEN, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NGO'S. THIS WORK INVOLVES ADVOCACY TO PRESENT THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SINGLE WOMEN & POLICIES & PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR THIS GROUPS.

Impact:

Shirin got apportunity of education...

A young, smiling 9 year old Shirin Mohamad Pathan was brought to us by her mother about six months ago. The mother was very enthusiastic and keen that her daughter shirin learns at the day care centre. Shirin has cerebral palsy which had affected both her lower limbs and she had difficulty in walking, but she continued to radiate a positive cheer.

Shirin's mother had a woeful story to narrate about the father's non involvement in shirin's welfare the father, a cobbler by profession was not interested in the children's progress and chided the mother for being out of the house with Shirin. The house that the family lives in Sanjay Nagar is precariously placed over a drain and the family lives on the first floor on a rental basic. Shirin has great difficulty in moving in and out of the house.

To bring Shirin to the day care centre, she had to be carried by the mother which was resulting in the mother's illness and Shirin frequent absences at the centre. Hence it was decided that she be given a wheel chair so that the mother could bring her easiely to the centre.

Shirin was extremely happy at the day care centre participating in all activities. This motivated the mother to admit her in an educational stream and Shirin has been admited to the local BMC school. She also is being facilitated to procure her disablity certificate from all India institute of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Hajiali.

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo114_apnalaya.htm

Founded Year: 1973

Cause category: Women Empowerment

Our Supporters

• Ajay S Mittal
• Ananya A Mittal
• Dipika