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What a great ending to a great year!
Approximately 120 children participated in this year’s Annual Day. The theme was Unity in Diversity. Children presented dances representing specific states of India, culminating with an amalgamation of all the states stating the unity that exists despite India’s diverse cultures.
JA’s founder, Mr. Basil D’souza inspired the parents with a rousing speech.
Success stories from JA Health program were also shared. One particularly moving story was of a mother whose five year old son was hearing impaired. With the intervention of our Health program staff, they were able to get for him a hearing device and a disability certificate that enables him to avail of many benefits.
All in all a great day
Children and teachers eagerly awaited for the 22nd of February. The day of our annual picnic. This year we took the children to Rock Garden, Nerul and what a great time they had. One hundred and twenty-six children with 9 staff and volunteers made their way to the picnic site on board 2 buses. The fun and snacking started from the word go. Children were led in different picnic songs like ‘the wheels on the bus’, five little monkeys etc. They enjoyed themselves on the different play equipment; went on a train ride; filled their stomachs with scrumptious snacks and lunch; played till they dropped and still wanted more. The teachers had a tough time rounding them off to bring them home.
Came back with fond memories of another great day with friends, food and fun.
At the end of the year, we had a party for HLC children and parents. One hundred and thirty-eight children enjoyed themselves. What’s noteworthy is that One hundred and ten parents (Nineteen fathers) attended the party. HLC staff had organized the whole party for the parents. The DJ and MC (our very own teachers) kept them on their feet, dancing, playing games like bombing the city, crossing the river, bursting the balloon etc. It was a joy to see ladies who have never had a chance to participate in activities like these going for it with full gusto.
The parents and children were treated to snacks. Children were given return gifts on their way home.
On the 21st of August 2019, an eye camp was organized by JA Health Care program for the children of HLC. The camp was conducted at our Center by Wavikar Eye Institute. Our classrooms were setup to facilitate the testing. Four doctors had come from the Eye institute. Hundred and ten children were tested.
It was heartening to see that most of the children had no problem with their eyes. Two of the children had been diagnosed with some anomaly in their eyes. Their parents had been contacted and informed about this. Further tests were carried out at the Institute for these two children and appropriate treatment is being given to the children.
A Basic Life Support Awareness Session was organized by JA at Manpada Shakha on the 23rd of July 2019. This was conducted by a team of experts from Chaitanyam Institute for Human Excellence in Health Care, an initiative by Sweekriti Sociocare Foundation.
This session was for the families of our JA’s Geriatric Care Project. A total of Forty-eight people aged between 25 and 60 attended this session.
Dr. Mangalam spoke on the basics of CPR technique in plain and simple language. She also talked to them on how they as laymen could handle emergency health situations. Awareness on how to take help from the local doctor was also given. A live demonstration (on a dummy) was conducted and few of the attendees were called to practice on it