Vision
A peaceful world where all live together in harmony and with happiness.
Mission
Create equal opportunities for children/adults with disability to learn and grow through models of innovative and impact driven programs to enable them to
Be valued in the family and community
Actualize their potential
Fulfill their dreams
Society for Child Development (SfCD)
Founding and Mission
Founded in 1992 by Dr. Madhumita Puri, the Society for Child Development (SfCD) was established with a commitment to supporting children with disabilities from low-income communities. The organization's mission is to provide essential awareness, knowledge, facilities, services, and programs that foster the growth and development of these children and their families. As the children grew, SfCD recognized the need to extend its services to adults with disabilities who lacked access to formal education or vocational training, as well as those who had little hope of earning a decent wage.
Inclusive Approach and Core Verticals
From the outset, SfCD has been driven by a commitment to inclusion, prioritizing individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. The organization's cross-disability perspective is centered on identifying and enhancing individuals' strengths. Today, SfCD's programs are organized around three key verticals: Education, Employment, and Well-being. These programs address the entire lifecycle of persons with disabilities, promoting inclusive and diverse communities. While headquartered in New Delhi, SfCD also has branches in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Naukuchiatal, Uttarakhand.
Professional Team and Advisory Support
SfCD is led by a team of dedicated professionals from medical and behavioral fields, with invaluable guidance from educationists and parents of children with disabilities. This blend of expertise ensures a practical and realistic approach to addressing the unique needs of those they serve and achieving meaningful outcomes.
I. Education
Prabhat Resource Center
Education lies at the heart of SfCD's mission, primarily delivered through the Prabhat Resource Center. This center serves children with disabilities from low-income households, providing a range of services including center-based special education, a mobile school for children in urban slums, residential accommodation for homeless young adults with disabilities, and vocational training in crafts such as flower recycling, weaving, plastic bag recycling, and block printing.
Mobile School Initiative
The mobile school was born out of necessity during the pandemic when it became apparent that poor children with disabilities had no access to the family's only smartphone and were being left behind. A generous donation enabled the purchase of an old school bus, which was transformed into a mobile classroom. This bus visits nearby slums, identifying disabled children and school dropouts, and providing them with a platform for child-centered learning. Although the pandemic has ended, the success of this initiative has led SfCD to continue it. Over the past three years, more than 1,500 children with disabilities and school dropouts have been provided with essential reading and math skills and have subsequently been admitted to local government-run schools. SfCD's approach to education extends far beyond conventional methods.
Independent Living Center
The Independent Living Center offers young adults with intellectual disabilities, who were abandoned in public places and later found by the police, a transition to a shelter where they can experience independent living. These individuals, who are unable to live alone, are taught skills that allow them to work within the organization and save for personal luxuries like a mobile phone or special treats. SfCD ensures that all children and adults with disabilities under its care have access to the opportunities and facilities they need to thrive.
II. Employment
Trash to Cash Program
Beyond traditional education, SfCD provides skill development training through the Trash to Cash program for adults with sensory and physical disabilities. This training is offered either at the central institute or through outreach programs in government-operated shelters in Delhi. For the 247 abandoned women with mental challenges residing in these shelters, the program offers a chance to earn a livelihood. Trainees receive instruction in nine handicraft techniques, utilizing surplus materials from the community and factories to create products. The courses include pottery, carpentry, papier-mâché, herbal printing and dyeing, flower-based incense sticks and cones, weaving, tailoring, smelting, horticulture, product photography, and e-commerce management. The income generated through these skills enables participants to secure valued roles in their communities.
Support for Mothers
SfCD also provides skilling and trade-related learning opportunities for the mothers of the trainees and students under its care. The premise is that if a mother is economically supported, she can provide her vulnerable child with the extra necessities—nutrition, clothing, outings—that might otherwise be unaffordable. SfCD's future goal is to evolve its skill training program into a fully accredited institution with specialized equipment and teaching methodologies tailored for persons with disabilities and their families.
III. Well-being
Health and Nutrition
The third major program, Health and Well-being, is designed to support the gains and efforts of the first two. Regular and timely attention to health through medical checks and nutritious meals, cooked daily in the organization's kitchen, adds to the contentment and security of children and adults alike. Mobile school students receive savory snacks at regular intervals. Additionally, medical camps are frequently conducted to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of any ailments.
Recreational Activities
Workshops, knowledge sessions, and recreational activities are regularly organized to ensure the overall well-being of participants. These activities contribute to a holistic approach, ensuring that the individuals under SfCD's care lead fulfilling and enriched lives.
Underlying Philosophy
Over the last 30+ years, the organization has explored many aspects of the lives of persons with disabilities living in poverty and inhospitable neighborhoods, as compared to those who could access services that contributed to their development. SfCD has consistently focused on providing concentrated services in areas which are deficient and difficult to implement, leading to the development of its core program premise: "Bridge the Gap."