Mahalakshmi is a widow who takes care of her three grown up blind children in their twenties.  She lost her husband due to some kidney disease and she turned to be the bread winner working as a house hold help in few houses.

Condition

All her three children were born with a rare type of genetic disorder which made them visually impaired. She went to many hospitals and doctors but nothing could be done for the children to see light.

Connection

We were introduced to this family by a gentleman who used to support this family with some monthly rations and he explained the situation that they are in.

Our response

One of our team members went to visit the family and suggested that we as a team need to visit them and find some ways out to pull them out of the current situation.

My mind was in all thoughts of how to help them out of the current situation? How to create an opportunity for them to earn?  I did not have any immediate answer as this was the very first time that I am dealing with some one in this condition and that too three people in one house with a similar issue.

I told myself, let’s visit and understand what they know and let us assess using some external agencies what their abilities are? Secondly, I thought let us do something for the now and then let us work for the future.

We fixed a day and carried some dry rations for them which can help them for now. Their house was a small dwelling unit where all the four adults were living. We spent time talking to them, understanding how they are negotiating in their daily life. We could speak words of confidence and encourage them telling that the Almighty God is their source and reason for us to be with them. During our time of being with them we realised that they live in this hot condition even without a fan. We decided to buy a fan and give them which we did after few days.

Our action

We started connecting with different NGO’s and agencies including LV Prasad eye hospital and started working out some training programme for them.

We have now finalised with an agency to send the Girl to Chennai for a six month vocational training and the organisation will help her in getting employed post training.

Similarly, we also found an organisation to train the other young man Simachalam and again he will be assisted with employment.

We are working on the third young man and now we are confident that we will also find a way out for him.

Though in life they live in dark, it is a joy to see that they experience light in their life. We will continue to follow up with them and be their light in the days to come.

Do you know someone like this who needs help? Please write to us at contact@outreachfoundationindia.org

 

 

 

— Paulraj

Video Report