In the deprived slum locations in West India, Prabhat Education Foundation is replacing despair with hope. The community-based organisation helps children with special needs in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat. Their centres are designed as welcoming, cheerful and safe spaces for counselling, assessment, therapy, learning-by-doing – and for joy.

“Our mission is to build the capacities of people with special needs to live with dignity and hope as productive and confident citizens.”

In 2003, Prabhat started its journey to help children with special needs by identifying and nurturing children with learning difficulties struggling in mainstream schools. Starting with just one child, it now touches more than 3,000 lives in disadvantaged areas like Danilimda, Vatva and Lamba in east Ahmedabad – places where there was a lack of alternative approaches for those not served by conventional exam-oriented education opportunities.

Prabhat also helps the kids’ families, who are affected by stigma, ignorance and denial. The institutional facility provides systematic and accessible rehabilitation services for those challenged by poverty and mobility – always working with and through local communities.

Prabhat’s mission is to help differently-abled persons to achieve their full potential as citizens within an inclusive society, providing learning and growth opportunities for children and youth challenged by mental, physical and learning difficulties. This includes cerebral palsy, mental retardation, downs syndrome, speech-hearing impairments, muscular dystrophy, ADHD, learning and locomotor disabilities, microcephaly and being blind or deaf.

Programmes are only able to be run through funding received from institutions and individual donations. Funds and grants cover the expenses of therapy material, training and learning materials, food, transportation, staff salary, rent, bringing in expert consultants, outdoor visits, trainings for staff and parents for an entire year.

Check out Like Us, an exhibition by photographer Bindi Sheth, which shares the world of Prabhat’s special children and their families. Her photographs convey their hope, joy and tears.

Watch ► Prabhat Education Foundation captured the journey of children with special needs and their families during this pandemic:

AtlasAction: Your support can help Prabhat to reach more number of children and people with special needs. Donate here.

Read more ► Prabhat Education Foundation was mapped by Kiran Bir Sethi, the design guru who founded India’s top school, in her AtlasChart Top 5: Around India in 5 social projects