Case Study 1 : Akanksha

Ummeed has been closely associated with Akanksha, a non-profit organization that works with underprivileged children, ever since its inception 2 ½ years ago. This relationship exemplifies how Ummeed would like to work with NGOs as part of its goal of providing care to children from economically underprivileged children

Ummeed is associated with Akanksha at several levels and has been interacting closely with the senior management in terms of identifying and working through their problems.

At the outset, Ummeed helped Akanksha develop a Health Program for their children, which was found to be their immediate need at the time. Following this, several other specific issues and needs were identified for which Ummeed provided resources and support to Akanksha. For example, Ummeed has worked closely with Akanksha on an Innovative Leadership Program, in terms of:

• Developing the selection criteria for the program
• Providing input for the broad curriculum and modules for the program
• Sourcing a specialist to test/select children for the program

Working in close proximity with the children, teachers and administrators at Akanksha, Ummeed identified a strong need for a counselor and counseling services at Akanksha. Dr. Krishnamurthy has been actively involved in helping them in their efforts to hire a counselor, in terms of being on the interviewing panel for the same. In the meanwhile though, Ummeed extends its counseling services to Akanksha for children they are having difficulties in dealing with. This involves the counselor from Ummeed going to various Akanksha centers and having regular one on one sessions with the children, as well as liaising with the social workers and teachers involved.

Akanksha also refers to Ummeed those children whom they are having difficulties with in the classroom setting. These difficulties generally present in the form of behavior issues, attention issues, hyperactivity, excessive aggression etc. For these children, Ummeed offers services such as IQ testing, developmental pediatric assessments often to determine the need for medication and/or counseling/psychotherapy.

Given the high rate of burnout among teachers at Akanksha, Ummeed identified a need for a support group for the teachers at Akanksha. Ummeed began and now facilitates such a support group on an ongoing basis, to provide the teachers with the support and understanding they need in order to be better able to cope with their respective situations. This support group has enabled many teachers to express their feelings and frustrations, meet other teachers who are facing similar problems and discuss and work through their difficulties together thus lowering the levels of stress commonly experienced by them.

Ummeed has and continues to conduct training programs for the teachers and administrators at Akanksha on an ongoing basis, depending on their expressed needs and interests. In the past, these have included training programs in areas such as Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder etc.

Ummeed is also available to Akanksha as a resource for informal consultation, for any developmental/ behavioral problems they face and have difficulties with.

In summary, Ummeed has gone from developing a health care program for Akanksha to helping build awareness about developmental disabilities, conducting training programs, providing counseling services, running support groups as well as serving as a resource for them for various other issues. In keeping with its goal to help underprivileged children, Ummeed hopes to further strengthen this relationship with Akanksha and use it as a model to support other NGOs working with underprivileged children in the years to come.

Case Study 2 : Shabnam

Shabnam (name changed) is a 5 year old girl who first came to Ummeed when she was 2 years old. At that time she had delayed milestones, problems with her gross motor skills and was unable to sit, stand, walk, talk or even roll over. She was assessed and diagnosed with Generalized Hypotonia and Global Developmental Delays. Shabnam was recommended ongoing physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy which she has been undergoing for the past 3 years.

Shabnam comes from an economically disadvantaged family, who had minimal understanding of her problem. However, through frequent interactions with professionals at Ummeed, her parents have gained an understanding of her problems and have become actively involved in her treatment over the years. Their participation and cooperation in her ongoing sessions at the center as well as on a home program has been tremendously helpful. Consistent efforts have enabled Shabnam's visits to the center to be reduced from 3 times a week to just once in 2 weeks, an indicator of the significant improvements Shabnam’s treatment has resulted in.

Today, Shabnam is a child who is able to walk independently for short distances, climb steps with support, eat with a swivel spoon and help in her daily grooming. Her speech and understanding of language have also improved significantly and she is able to understand complex sentences. Combined efforts on part of the professionals at Ummeed as well as her family have resulted in a significant overall improvement for Shabnam. More importantly, in addition to providing a huge sense of satisfaction, pride and fulfillment to all involved, Shabnam can now look forward to a more independent future.