It’s not a date you would find marked on most people's Calendar....it is the “International Disability Day” and, unlike the other hyped "Days", is not even noticed or known to many.
At Bringing Smiles, however, it is the most important day of the year. This Friday, December the 3rd, was awaited eagerly by all of us to try and Bring Smiles to the lives of those differently abled persons whom we could touch upon. Those who could be lifted from dependence to Independence, from a life of gloom to brightness and from immobility to mobility.
Several of these persons gathered this cold and wet December morning and took back a little hope and Sunshine with them.
Sh. Bodh Raj Sikri ji, Our Chief Guest for the occasion handed over Desktop video magnifier with OCR, Sewing machine, and cheques for computer training and spoke kind words to encourage them to look for little rays of hope from henceforth and bring Smiles into their lives.
Today’s beneficiaries were our guests and after a light breakfast were given Tricycles, Wheelchairs, Smart phones, a Electric driven Sewing Machine, Blankets, Thermal innerwear, Dry items for setting up a tea stall including pans and a gas burner etc and Little carpets to sit on without always having to experience cold and unclean floors.
We had fifty differently abled guests; men, women and children, return home to face life and its challenges with a new beginning and support.
- Eight little children, who should have ideally been running around and playing in parks, received paediatric wheelchairs.
- 12 visually impaired Boys from a rehabilitation Centre School for Blind Gurugram and 3 Girls from NAB for Women, Delhi received smart phones specially designed for them.
- 18 Adults with dysfunctional limbs received our signature yellow tricycles fitted with a roof to protect them from the extreme weather conditions and a rear-view mirror for security. Slogans painted on these vehicles are to create awareness and encouragement for them and others. Look at the young lad Umesh who came on all fours but left with dignity on his tricycle as did the other recipients like Bandhu Ram, Rakesh Kr, Sanjay Paswan, Aasha Ram, Ajit, Uma Dutt, , and a dozen more. Ram Yattan, Naresh Kumar Chauhan, Ashok Jain, Vijay Paswan, Sunil Kukreti, Sonu (Woman) and Gopal and Umesh have been living with their disabilities in Delhi and all were happy to see some relief in their difficult lives on receiving the tricycles here in Gurgaon. Prashant is the proud recipient of a tricycle along with some materials for vending tea and snacks.
- Three Ladies: Sonu (Delhi), Bela Rani with Tricycle, Hamida with wheelchair and Ajit were given crutches / walkers bringing some Independence to their day-to-day activities.
- One sophisticated Desktop Video Magnifier with OCR (costing 2.5L) specifically meant for 5% vision impaired children was handed to the Rehab Centre, which was very kindly donated by Member of Bringing Smiles.
- One electric driven sewing machine for commercial use was provided to Sh. Sunil Kumar with one leg amputee
This year we found new support for our cause by many individuals and others like BNI Group of Gurugram, Lava International, Lusso Hub etc with some gadgets & materials. Shiv Nadar School along with their Sshakt Foundation helped with monetary support.