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Voice of Navkshitij: July 2016

Voice of Navkshitij: July 2016

Posted by: Navkshitij Created Date: 02 Aug

From The President’s Desk

Dealing with Autism

This year we have launched a workshop for autistic friends. We were shying away from starting this facility. When we got a bus from the Rotary Club of Gandhibhavan, we decided to go ahead; we could now offer pick-up and drop-off facility. Autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors. A mental condition present from early childhood, it is characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people, and in using language and abstract concepts. Handling autism is a new experience for us. Initially, we did struggle. Slowly, we started understanding them better. We have now planned their day in such a way that we can use their energy fully. We give them dance and music lessons as a group and one-to-one music therapy. This month, we started a file-making unit for them. Some of them are very good at cutting paper. What they need is constant attention and a well-organized, detailed program. We are introducing new therapies for them. We hope to have two outings in a term for them. Our aim is to gift them and their families happy and stress-free lives. We are ready to try, wait, watch and learn.

Friend Sudha Springs a Pleasant Surprise

Sudha was a very stubborn girl with lot of behavioral problems. Her parents died a few years ago, compounding her problems. We planned to give her special time, but it was a challenge for the caregiver to give her more time beyond the routine activities and interaction. When volunteers from Friends of Waldorf arrived from Germany this year, I took some time to explain Sudha’s mindset and her current issues to them. I instructed them to spend more time with her. Both the volunteers, Lotte and Jacqueline, began spending more time with Sudha, talking to her and giving her extra time during the evening walks. In fact, they went the extra mile and gave her time whenever they could. We could soon see changes in Sudha’s behaviour. Her tendency to shout and hit other girls reduced. In fact, she started feeling good from within her. She began doing chores like washing the basin in her unit. She would proudly share with her friends and with me what she did at the workshop or at her residential unit. Volunteer Jacqueline had to leave Navkshitij earlier than scheduled because of personal reasons. After she left, we could see that Sudha was missing her. One day, Sudha surprised us all by writing a lovely letter to Jacqueline in English, expressing her feelings. We were so touched to read the letter. This is what she wrote: My dear Jacqueline, How are you? How is your Health? How Is Climate? In Germany? Here in India Is Rainy Season. In the night. You nit sweater. Tomorrow I make neckless. Say my Namaste to Sweniya. Yours Affly, Sudha. Our Friends do spring surprises like these. And, of course, we look forward to them.


Upcoming Happenings

  • August 3: Friendship Day with volunteers from the Rotaract Club of Pune Sports City
  • August 6: Mehandi Program in preparation for Nagpanchami
  • August 7: Nagpanchami
  • August 15: Independence Day celebrations and picnic at Aswali site
  • August 18: Raksha Bandhan
  • August 25: Dahi handi Festival


Month’s events

  • July 13: Traffic Police Awareness Program
  • July 19: Gurupoornima
  • July 23: Trek to Shivneri Fort (Junnar)
  • July 25: Ana Pan Sati Meditation session


Navkshitij now needs:

  • Vegetable Cutting Machine – Approximate cost Rs. 19,500
  • Cricket Nets – Approximate cost Rs. 6,000
  • Garden Bench – Approximate cost Rs. 9,000
  • 2-Seater Park Swings – Approximate cost Rs. 20,000
  • 1 LED TV (29 inches)- Approximate cost Rs. 30,000
  • 2 Watches – Approximate cost Rs.1000
  • Table Tennis set – Approximate cost Rs. 20,000
  • Biometric Machine – Approximate cost Rs. 15,000


Thank you from Navkshitij to:

  • Ms. Ashalata Nandedkar
  • Dr. Mahadevi M. Sirsikar
  • Mr.Milind Pathak
  • Mr.Jaydev Bhaskar Kambali
  • Mr.Sanjay Nagesh
  • Mr.Vaibhav Tangadpalliwar
  • Ms. Vasumathi Sriganesh
  • Ms. Shivraman Somasundaram
  • Mr.Aaush Rajkumar Patil
  • Mr.Abhay Khanapure
  • M/S Flextronics Technologies Pvt Ltd
  • Mr.H. G. Awate
  • Mr.Nitin Patel
  • Rosary School Batch of 1975
  • Sant Nirankari Mandal
  • Aparna Kulkarni


(A monthly newsletter published by Dr. Neelima Desai and edited by Kanaka Cadambi on behalf of Navkshitij)