AGAPE ANKOOR

PROJECT ANKOOR OF IMCARES SEEK, FIND AND CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES, FROM POOR AND MARGINALISED FAMILIES IN MUMBAI.

CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. CHILDREN ARE VERY PRECIOUS. BUT THERE ARE ALSO CHILDREN WHOM THE SOCIETY THINKS AS UNWANTED, USELESS AND A CURSE. THEY ARE CALLED DISABLED OR HANDICAPPED. BUT GOD CALLS THEM DIFFERENTLY ABLED. BLINDED BY AN ‘ABLED’ LIFESTYLE, OFTEN THESE CHILDREN ARE FORGOTTEN AND LEFT BEHIND. MANY TIMES IN POOR FAMILIES, A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS TIED-UP TO A COT INSIDE THE HOUSE LIKE AN ANIMAL WHILE THE PARENTS GO OUT IN SEARCH OF WORK. VERBAL ABUSES ARE HURLED AT THEM CALLING THEM A CURSE AND A STIGMA TO THE FAMILY. MANY OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER CELEBRATED THEIR BIRTHDAYS OR ARE LEFT OUT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFERENT FORM OR ABILITY. SOME CHILDREN HAVE NEVER STEPPED OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR YEARS! ALONG WITH THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THERE ARE ALSO CHILDREN LIVING WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES. ABJECT KIND OF POVERTY AND SOMETIMES THE WHOLE FAMILY SUFFERING FROM SICKNESS THESE FAMILIES LIVE ON THE MARGINS OF THE SOCIETY.


ANKUR MEANS A SPROUTING SEED IN SANSKRIT. PROJECT ANKOOR CONSIDERS EVERY SUCH CHILD AS PRECIOUS AND ITS FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND SUCH CHILDREN WHO ARE HIDDEN AND LOST. ONCE FOUND THE ANKUR PROJECT OFFERS COUNSELLING, EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION TO THE CHILD WITHIN THE FAMILY. THE COUNSELLING AND EDUCATION IMPARTED WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE DISABLED-FRIENDLY.

A VERY LABOUR INTENSIVE PROJECT ANKOOR, AIMS TO BE A VOICE OF SUCH VOICELESS CHILDREN AND TO BRING THEM INTO THE OPEN WITH DIGNITY AND TO REINSTATE THEM INTO THE SOCIETY AS RESPONSIBLE AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS.