- Bloom
Bloom (Chiguru)
Chiguru aims at ensuring significant and joyful childhood for children in difficult circumstances. SAMA foundation believes that the quality of care and support children receive strongly determines their psycho social development which includes their intellectual and social behavioural growth. Children in difficult circumstances include disabled children, street children, child labour etc.
- Dignity
Dignity (Swabhimana)
SAMA Foundation supports and facilitates KARO’s activities and agendas (Karnataka State Disability Network). KARO advocates for the Rights of Disabled in Karnataka. The network organizes rallies, meetings and discussions with politicians and other stake holders. KARO works in many ways to improve the status of disabled in the state and makes sure they get their rights and entitlements. Among the people with disability the networks’ special focus is on children and woman with disability as they are more marginalized. As of now KARO is operating in 29 districts of Karnataka.
KARO was needed as disabled people in India in spite of the ‘Disability Act 1995’ don’t enjoy equal opportunities. Strong biases still exist against the people with disability in the society. Women, children and the Dalits with disability suffer the most among others.
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- Hope
Hope (Nambhike)
Nambhike activities aim at the rehabilitation of children with Cerebral Palsy, mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities. This initiative started to save the lives of children with Cerebral Palsy. In initial year of SAMA’s operation in its target areas, 4 children with cerebral palsy died because of the lack of awareness of their parents. This prompted SAMA foundation to start ‘Home based education’ programme for such children. Ashraya thus teaches daily living skills, provides physiotherapy support and basic education to children with severe cerebral palsy. For the sustenance of the programme SAMA also focuses on building capacity of parents on home management, law and schemes pertaining to disability.
- Swavalambi
Self- Reliant (Swavalambi)
SAMA through KARO started small ‘Thrift and Credit Societies’, in which a group of people with disability or the parents of disabled children save small amounts of money every month. They are also given the opportunity to avail small loans. The group functions through an elected board which decides about giving loans. These Thrift and Credit societies work only with known people in specific areas. 29 such groups exist in south Karnataka, Bangalore and north Karnataka.
Organization started these societies to help disabled people who very often are not regarded as credit worthy by the banks in India. It is very hard and in many cases impossible for them to get even small credits. They thus don’t get the opportunity to start self-employment ventures or support their family in need. SAMA along with KARO ultimately wants to come up with a credible financial institution (community bank).
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- Yellarigu Shikshana
Education for All (Yallareegu Shikshana)
Yallareegu Shikshana aims at promoting inclusive and easy learning approach in the education system. The need of it lies in the fact that the current education system supports exclusion of disabled children from the system. This is because the accessibility to schools and the methodology of teaching in schools is unfavourable to them. Most of the disabled children are not able to enrol in schools because of the unfriendly attitude of the school authorities, denial to admission or the inaccessibility of the schools from the community precincts. To bring policy change and better implementation of inclusive and learning friendly approach in the main stream education system, SAMA foundation conducts capacity building programmes, study/research, seminars, workshops and campaigns.
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