Helpers of the Handicapped, Kolhapur work with a vision of making people with disabilities productive and self-supportive citizens leading fuller lives with dignity.
Helpers of the Handicapped, Kolhapur work with a vision of making people with disabilities productive and self-supportive citizens leading fuller lives with dignity.
At Shantinagar, Unchgaon (East), Kolhapur
(K.G.to 8th std.) : Established : June 2001 and (9th & 10th std.) : Established: June 2012. The two schools are established by HOH to provide barrier free learning environment and to build confidence in physically.
Cumulative Capital Cost incurred to date : Rs. 293.61 lakh
Requirement for recurring expenses for current year : Rs. 42.00 lakh
‘Samarth’ is an unaided school run on donations from individuals and donor trusts.Apart from our hostel; the students come from two neighboring villages’ viz. Unchgaon and Mudshingi. The qualified teaching staff in the schools provides activity based education. They have well equipped computer lab, science lab, spacious library and study room with more than 10,000 books. The notable features of our schools are IBT (Introduction to Basic Technology) Course, Remedial Education facility, E-learning facility, Remote Classroom, Digital Classroom, and a specious auditorium with LCD projector. We have special toilets and rest rooms for students with disabilities. The first floor and terrace are accessible by specially designed ramps for the physically challenged persons.
We have designated three rooms in the school as ‘Remote Education Rooms’. We have provided internet facility in these rooms. Teachers from Pune, Bangalore, and even U.S.A. teach English, Mathematics and Science through Google hangout. These are interactive sessions. Students actively participate and even conduct Science experiments as per remote teacher’s instruction.
The schools are working with the concept of integrated co-ed education for physically, intellectually, economically, socially challenged and able –bodied boys and girls. At present there are (422) physically challenged and able bodied boys and girls from economically backward rural areas of Unchgaon and Mudshingi studying here from Class I to Class X. We provide hostel facility and free education and related facilities to all the disabled students. All facilities including transport in our bus is provided at nominal cost to able bodied students.
We are happy to report that our schools have achieved remarkable results in the academic year 2022-23. The total strength of our schools from 1st standard to 10th standard is 503. Out of these, about 23.85% students were at-risk students due to their physical or learning disabilities or social disadvantage (e.g. students belong to Phase Paradhi, a Scheduled Tribe Community). Despite these challenges, 286 students out of 503 from our schools have secured first class. We have 19 teaching and 7 non-teaching staff who are dedicated and supportive of our students.
We are proud to say that our schools are one of the few that accept and accommodate students with learning disabilities or slow learners, who are often rejected by other schools due to the fear of failure. Many students like these come to us with the desire to get better education and support. Since last 14 years, our schools have been welcoming these types of students from 1st to 10th standard and providing them with the best teaching support, educational aids, expert help, tracking their progress and working hard for their secure future.
Along with academic education, we are providing life skills traning to samarth students. Under the guidence of Vigyan Ashram, Pabal(Tal.: Shirur, Dist. Pune), and the patronage of Smt. Anita Gopal Dandekar, we have started MSFC course for students of class VIII to class X, who are given hands-on experience in various skills. Once aweek, the students are given practical traning in electricity, environment, engineering, farming, animal husbandry, home science and health related issues. Students have started doing small jobs on thier own both at home and schools.
Apart from academic education, we also provide life skills to our Samarth students. Under the guidance of Vigyan Ashram, Pabal (Tal: Shirur, Dist. Pune), and the patronage of Smt. Anita Gopal Dandekar, we have started IBT program for students of class VIII to class X, who are given hands-on experience in various skills. Once a week, the students are given practical training in electricity, environment, engineering, farming, animal husbandry, home science and health related issues. Students have started doing small jobs on their own both at home and schools.
Some of the activities that our students did this year are:
They produced and sold ‘Ayurvedic Utane & Small Akashkandil’ for Diwali, which are traditional products used for skin care and festive decoration.
They learned to make beautiful flowers with the help of duplex paper, which they used to decorate the school and hostel premises.
They participated in a science exhibition organized by the District Education Office, where they displayed their projects on solar energy, water conservation, and waste management.
With the support of our well-wishers, we gave following awards to our achiever students:
SSC Examination toppers- (Students with Physical challenged)
Late Shri. Meghashyam Kulkarni memorial award instituted by his granddaughter Smt. Saral Ghosh.
1. Sujit Mohan Jadhav - 64.60%
Late Shri. D. S. “Alias” Dada Naik Memorial Award Given to the students securing highest marks in English subject in Class X & Class IX - instituted by Naik Family.
1. Kedar Dattatray Chavhan (X) - 93% 2. Bhakti Pratap Gharmode (IX) - 86%
Late Smt. Sarojini Prabhakar Shukla memorial award- Given to the students securing highest marks in Science subject in Class X & Class IX - instituted by Mr. Prabhakar Shukl.
1. Kedar Dattatray Chavhan (X) - 91% 2. Varad Amar Palekar (IX) - 84%
Late Smt. Suchita Naik memorial ‘Jidd Purskar’ given to the students from economically or socially disadvantaged background- instituted by Mr. Sudhanshu Naik.
1.Paras Ankush Shinde (X) - 74.40%
Late Smt. Laxmibai Shankar Chavhan memorialaward- Given to the student securing highest marks in M.S.A.T. (IBT)subject in Class X instituted by Mr.Kisan Chavhan.
1. Karan Kishor Pawar - 87%
Mr. Jayaram Fagare instituted award for the student securing highest marks in Hindi in Class VIII
1. Pooja Manoj Chaugule (IIX) - 96%
We have a well-equipped computer lab in Samarth, but most of our PCs have become outdated. Also, we wish to create a computer lab in the hostel for the students, so that they can access the internet and learn new skills. We needed 50 computer sets for this purpose, out of which we have received 19 from generous donors. We still need 31 more computer sets to fulfill our requirement. We appeal to all the well-wishers and donors for their generous help in this regard. Your contribution will make a huge difference in the lives of our students.
“We visited your school and hostel. My friends suggested that I celebrate my birthday here and made the best arrangements. I was inspired by visiting this institute. I realized we should enjoy what we have. Thank you very much for celebrating my birthday and for your valuable time.”
“Visiting this great institute gave me the first impression that a dream can come true. It is definitely a brave and admirable work. Good luck for the future! The smile of every handicapped person who meets us gives us strength to live. The work of the Vocational Training Center is certainly challenging but empowering the disabled to stand on their own feet. The work is truly appreciated. Best Wishes!”
“Very nice, well maintained place, providing the best facilities for the disabled and other visitors as well. Very good, yummy and wholesome food, hygienic and clean place. Kind staff who can understand the needs of everyone. Excellent management! Good luck to everyone!”
“We came with the students as the lesson plan was about external and internal body parts. We showed them the value of our body and its importance. Here, everyone is very active and we learned from them that every challenge is possible. There is a solution and nothing is impossible.”
“The institute is doing great work in giving confidence and teaching students skills so that they become self-independent. By interacting with students, one can say nothing is impossible, ‘If there is a will, there is a way’. Hoping to visit again. Best Wishes! ”
“Speechless to see the enthusiasm and strength of the students and all the organizing committee for building up and bringing up the wonderful facility. The youth are unimaginable. May you keep growing…”
“I had read about it, heard about it, today was the moment for an actual visit. It is beyond the imagination. Great talent, encouraging environment, I met many people from whom I could be inspired. Want to visit again and again…”
“After my visit to Helpers of the Handicapped, I was thrilled to experience the efforts taken by the organization in providing facilities to the disabled people. I wish the best of luck to the organization and would like to contribute on behalf of D Y Patil Education Society, Kolhapur.”