‘Apanghar Boys’:

33 Boys and 26 Girls were there in Apanghar this year. All of them are in the age group of 4 to 18 years. The children, apart from receiving support for education, health, vocational training, and exposure visits, interacting with mainstream children and also had an opportunity to manifest their talents in various events. Following are the notable progress of the children mentioned hereinafter:

Education:

All the children continued with their education in formal school. Two boys and 2 girls appeared for secondary examination. All of them are first to appear secondary level in schools in their families, before them nobody from the family was studied so far.

Health:

The children received health check-up by registered doctors twice a week. Side by side, based on the psychological needs of the children, counseling was also provided as and when required. The children also received orientation on health and hygiene and adolescence health so as to improve their health behavioral practices.

Recreation:

To work for a human being is a must but there is need to take rest and having the opportunity of recreation. In order to extend scope of international mandate OFFER has provided with various programs like sports, fete, cultural competition and performances, picnic and exposure trips to the children. Through these programs, the latent talents of the children were exposed and they immensely enjoyed presenting themselves amidst a larger audience. This year they jointly organised Rbindra Jayanti, Basanta Utsav etc. A group of inmates visited Rabindra Sadan and Academy of Fine Arts to see Theatres and Dramas.  They regularly published Wall magazine completely written and designed by themselves, this year they published a special puja edition newsletter named ‘Saisab’ meaning the childhood. They all participated in their respective school sports also. Auspicious days, having national and international significance were celebrated by them with grandeur and gaiety.

Rehabilitation:

1 boy and 2 girls, who had been residents of the home, were rehabilitated within their respective families. This has brought in each one of them a remarkable sense of attachment with their family members and helped them overcome the feeling of isolation. Similarly 2 boys and 1 girl who appeared Madhyamik Examination this year is taking bakery training and was placed in a job under Sahajpath Project respectively which they continued simultaneously with their education.
All of the programs implemented for and with the children have helped in developing a strong sense of self respect within each one of them. There has been an increased level of self- realization and confidence.

Apanghar - Case Study

Case Study – I: This is the fact happened in the year 2003. Madhumita, Madhumita Dalui, a girl studying in class VII but all on a sudden her parent’s become ill and due prolonged ailment her education has come to an end. Somehow Madhumita came to know about Apanghar and reached one day and talk to the authority of Apanghar and got admitted into Class VIII. Now she has passed the Higher Secondary and continuing her education. Simultaneously she has taken the responsibility to look after and teach the younger inmates of Apanghar, the Home for the girls.

Case Study – II: Kashinagar, a hamlet in the district of South 24 Parganas. Jayanti Halder, a girl of poor parents came from that hamlet. She was frustrated and insecure state of mind. In the year 2003 she came and gets her admission into Class V. She attained Madhyamik level in the year 2009 from the Apanghar Home for the girls.
Now she has been undergoing training, how to handle and take care of the MR children. Despite doing this she is admitted into Secondary school with the combination subjects like Economics & Geography. She wanted to be the Special Educator and preparing herself to that direction.

Case Study – III: Holding hands of her parents Sahadev Patra entered into the City – Kolkata from the remotest village situated in the Sundarbans. He once came to the Apanghar Home for the boys and got admitted into Class VIII in the year 2003. He has successfully passed the Madhyamik examination. He got himself trained and joined as a store keeper in a reputed company. He is now in his family. He again admitted into Open University for higher studies. He saves money with the bank out of his salary.

Case Study – IV: Dum Dum is gateway Railway platform to enter the Sealdah Station. It is one of the busiest platforms. Netai Karmakar once had his dwelling on the platform with other fellow like him. The activist rescued him from their in the year 2001 and admitted him into Apanghar Home for the boys. He has passed the Madhyamik examination in the year. Now he is one of the staff members of OFFER. It is quite natural that his family is poverty stricken. He has now been looking after the family by sending money out of his salary. Simultaneously he has been continuing his education in the open school.