Tag: Prity

shuktara homes for young people with disabilities

New physiotherapist at shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

We now have a local physiotherapist who is coming to Lula Bari and the shuktara boys' house. He may increase his timing but for now he is starting slowly with one hour in each home twice a week. After only a couple of sessions the results were obvious.

We are very grateful to two wonderful shuktara supporters who are sponsoring his stipend for one year.

We expect regular physio sessions will make a difference in both comfort and mobility for Moni, Prity, Guria, Aakash, Subhash, Suman and Ratan.

And it's great fun, especially with the exercise balls!

Filming at REACH school

Posted on by shuktara

Last week the Shuktara Documentary Film crew spent some time filming at REACH school where the girls from Lula Bari go. Phoebe Brown and Raegan Hodge were invited to film Guria and Prity in their physiotherapy sessions at REACH and were able to get some great shots of their day in school.

We thank Phoebe and Raegan for coming and look forward when they return to Kolkata to film more of shuktara.

You can see updates, film clips and photos here: https://www.gofundme.com/shuktarafilm

shuktara home for young people with disabilities

It’s all about being independent

Posted on by shuktara

At shuktara we have always encouraged everyone to be as independent as they can be. Prity has found her very own unique way of comfortably getting around Lula Bari.

She has cerebral palsy and cannot walk, so she devised this way of getting upstairs with Lali's help.
Each of the young people who live at shuktara have their own ways of getting around and some need more help than others.

Please click on the link below to see the trailer for the shuktara Documentary Film and donate to help tell more of their stories:
https://www.gofundme.com/shuktarafilm

shuktara homes for disabled young people

Update on the documentary

Posted on by shuktara

Phoebe (one of the filmmakers) says:
"I wanted to share this small bit of video that didn't make the trailer cut -- because the sentiment is very important to David and also to us as filmmakers...

On this next trip, cameras will be shared and I'm working on ideas that will allow the kids who don't have the motor control to hold a camera to shoot differently. Or to let that movement be part of the making. The shuktara community's eyes are as important - if not more important than - our eyes."

To be part of this amazing documentary about shuktara please click here:

https://www.gofundme.com/shuktarafilm

"True generosity consists precisely in fighting to destroy the causes which nourish false charity.

False charity constrains the fearful and subdued, the 'rejects of life' to extend their trembling hands.

True generosity lies in striving so that these hands — whether of individuals or entire peoples — need be extended less and less in supplication, so that more and more they become human hands which work and, working, transform the world."

Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

shuktara home for disabled girls

A regular evening at Lula Bari

Posted on by shuktara

Our girls house tutor Priyanka (photo on right) is with the girls most evenings from about 6pm and sometimes stays the night.

Last Thursday night, 15th Feb, Guria and Moni were drawing (we particularly love her fish) while Lali was doing basic Bengali/English and Prity along with Muniya were doing their school homework.

It's great to see Guria taking part in all the activities and Priyanka makes sure that she is included in everything.

Read more about:
Guria
Moni
Lali
Prity
Muniya

Prity will sit exams in a regular school!

Posted on by shuktara

Prity will be sitting her exams in a regular school. She has been attending REACH, the school for students with disabilities where many of our young people study.

She is now enrolled in a local school where she will sit all her exams. We are happy to see inclusion happening here in Kolkata and we wish Prity best of luck on her exams. She is a very bright young lady.

2018 Saraswati Puja at shuktara

Saraswati Puja on the roof

Posted on by shuktara

Every year Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the roof of the shuktara boys' home. All of the young people at shuktara eagerly anticipate wearing new clothes and having kedgeree and prasad. Friends and family are invited to this puja and as you can see, there is always quite a crowd of people having a wonderful time.

shuktara homes

Old friends visit shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

In 1999, the very beginning of shuktara, Alison and Bryan stayed in an upstairs flat in the first shuktara home. Their door was almost always open to the first five boys - Anna, Sunil, Shantara, Bapi and Sanjay.

For the next few years they taught computer skills downstairs in David's flat, shared meals with everyone at shuktara, and even went on vacations to Goa and Puri with the boys. While they lived in Kolkata they were frequent visitors to the shuktara homes.

They recently returned to Kolkata for a visit and absolutely loved being back with the young people of shuktara. They took dozens of photos - here are a few of the best.

shuktara - 2017 October - Tamina twirling a sparkler

Diwali – the festival of light

Posted on by shuktara

Diwali is Hindu New Year - also called the Festival of Lights, a holiday that all of shuktara look forward to with joyful anticipation.

The festivities begin at dusk as candles are lit in all of the windows, up the stairs, and around the perimeter of the roof. Everyone enjoys lighting sparklers and crackers as well as watching the fireworks that explode above the rooftops of Kolkata. It's a magical celebration however it's possible that no one enjoys it quite as much as Sunil.