Reaching out to children and young adults with a disability.
The Anondo Neer Project was developed by the Marist Missionary Sisters for people with a disability provides life skill training, basic physiotherapy, literacy and numeracy education, income generating skills and opportunities for socialization outside of their home, to intellectually challenged, (many are also physically disabled) and deaf children. The project helps with medical care related to the disability and assists with the costs of some medications. It also provides the parents and immediate families of those with a disability with health education and emotional support to help deal with them.
Recently, AMS received a number of updates regarding the program and the background to several of the students. For one particular student this past quarter has been very busy because at age 15, he has discovered his voice for the first time. Suffering from severe autism, he began by saying “just keep quiet” and has gone on to repeat the phrase every day. In the past few months he has started saying new words and is trying his hand at singing. Another big step forward is that he now comes and sits at the table with the other children for morning tea. His enormous progress has brought so much joy to his family, the staff at Anondo Neer and most importantly to himself.
The Marist Mission Centre (MMC), in collaboration with AMS, has ensured that this project has been able to provide a positive change in the lives of many disabled children and young adults living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2018, the ongoing partnership with MMC will ensure this program continues to effect change for some of the most deprived children in Bangladesh.