The Handimachal project for disabled children is quite often introduced in the local press in Kullu, which is essential to publicise our services to families in the valley and raise awareness on disabilities issues. 

This week, for the first time ever I believe, one national newspaper published an article about the Handimachal Kullu Therapy Unit, and relayed the restless energy put by the French associations “La maison des Himalayas” and “Handimachal”, HPVHA Shimla, our team and friends in Kullu and Manali:  please read the article published in "The Tribune" on 15 February.  

This gives me the opportunity to express once again my sincere gratitude to all volunteers and donators who have turned this dream into reality.

Dominique Dufau

Your may click on the picture below to access the press cut in large format
or read the text online:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120215/himplus.htm#7

I am writing this blog on the first rainy day of winter, which also happens to be Disability Day at the Unit.  Balloons and streamers decorate the Unit and now we wait for children, though it’s been raining hard throughout the night. Due to the dust, we would normally welcome the rain though not on this particular day.

My days here in Kullu and in the Unit will soon come to an end.  Laura and I ended our day yesterday with a quiet walk above the town, close to Ragunath Temple and contemplated on how slow life can be here as opposed to the bustle and hurry of our lives back home.  I hope to take this slowness back with me.  I also hope to always remember the kindness shown to me by the parents of the children I have seen. The parents’ dedication to their children is immeasurable and worthy of mention. 

It is difficult to write this article now without using “we” and “our” as Laura Turnaco, my colleague and roommate, have spent nearly every day together since her arrival on September 4.  We have shared so many experiences together and have enjoyed much “funny time” sharing French and USA songs, movies and book ideas.  Our “to do” list before leaving mentions those people we still need to visit, pooja we still want to attend  and pictures to be made of shopkeepers of whom we have made friends.  My Indian experiences would not have been the same without her.

Most of all, the children I have met here in the Unit, in the schools or in the homes have made my experiences whole and worthy of the trip half way around the world.  It has not been until goodbyes are beginning to be said that I have felt how strong the impressions are the children will leave upon me.  It feels good to pass the torch off to the Unit’s new permanent OT, Naveen Dhiman.  By his presence, the Unit will be able to sustain the current number of OT patients and hopefully soon exceed this number as he reaches out to those parents with his native Hindi and pleasant manner.

As I finish this article for the blog, the sun slowly shows itself through the large oak tree on the playground just outside the Unit’s window. Hot tea warms my body on this chilly day and we look forward to hosting those children who will come today.

April Knight, volunteer OT

Yesterday saw the first snow fall in Manali, down to Raison not so far above Kullu.  This was not enough to stop Raju and his wife Asha to drive down to Kullu and attend the small farewell party for Laura and April. Unfortunately, not many parents took that risk, and only a few children were present: Pushpa, Himanshu, Moni, Anuj and their parents, five children from Nav-Chetna school with one special educator, Mr. Shreheli (Nav-Chetna), and Desraj's mother. Not a favourable day for a get together, which shows again the difficult conditions in which we have to run this project.

Only five days before leaving Kullu, April and Laura:  I hope you will make the best of it and bring "warm" memories back home!

After months of discussions, exchange of emails, Skype interviews, missed arrival, doubts, I am happy to announce that the Handimachal team now counts an Indian permanent occupational therapist.

Naveen Dhiman, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the Delhi Institute of Rural Development (University of Delhi), joined our team this morning, 1st December 2011, and can be seen, in this picture, in front of the Handimachal blue house with April.  

Having a permanent OT from Himachal Pradesh (in fact from the neighbouring district of Mandi) is really what I wished for the Handimachal project and it will allow us to continue promoting this profession in the area and of course to better serve the local community.

Naveen is rather new in his profession but I am confident that he will soon deliver his full capabilities with the help of April Knight until mid-December, and all through 2012, with the cooperation of our next OT volunteers :  Siobhan O'Connor (from Australia, from end of January), Samantha Goodwin (UK, from June) and Maria Ruiz Plana (Spain, from October).

Christelle Pettazzi, a French teacher for adapted sports activities, will also join the team from beginning of March in order to relay Laura in the sports programme successfully implemented by Laura Turnaco. 

Even if I want to remain prudent regarding our expectations for the project, 2012 seems very promising for Handimachal.

Welcome to Kullu, Naveen!

Dominique, 1st December 2011