In the "Valley of Gods", discover and follow the progress of the Handimachal programme for special-need children in Kullu (Himachal Pradesh, India).
This morning, the Handimachal team gathered on the Dhalpur ground in Kullu to attend the annual Sports Day for disabled children. Sport was not the only program of the day. This day was also the opportunity to share, discuss and for parents to meet while...
Dear children, dear parents, dear friends! This year, students from class 7 in Sainte-Marie secondary school in Montpellier (France) decided to organise a small solidarity project in order to help the development of the Handimachal Kullu Therapy Unit....
A nice summary of Tori's experience at Handimachal (and in Himachal Pradesh), as published in the OT Frontiers newsletter (October edition). Thank you Tori for your valuable contribution to Handimachal and to children and families of Kullu district! Experience...
This is a summary on the activity of the Handimachal programme over the last months, translated from the newsletter published by our head association “La maison des Himalayas” one month ago, and adapted to recent developments in Kullu. Since the beginning...
His name is Bhupinder, he is 13 years old. Five months ago he fell from the balcony of his house (unfortunately a very common accident for children in local villages). As a result from this 11 feet fall, his ear was injured and half his face paralysed....
I am delighted to inform you that the Handimachal project for disabled children will get the lucky support from the musicians of the French association « Note et Bien », who will offer their talent and passion for a free concert to be given on: 9 December...
On 1st April early morning, I landed on the tiny airport of Bhuntar, 10 km South of Kullu town, after a breathtaking flight from Delhi: along the mighty Himalayan range, above the futuristic town of Chandigarh, and finally, with a few acrobatic curves...
A beautifus post by Shakuntla, Special Educator: the original text in Hindi is followed by the translation into English made by Shruti - thanks to both of them. A Special Journey Working with special need children is a special experience, which makes...
This title may strike you as familiar: just one year ago I used the same phrase to introduce the post published on this blog in May... No news has been posted since my visit to Kullu in March 2011: not that nothing has happened in our small disability...
As part of Handimachal's awareness programs, we have been conducting disability seminars in schools for over a year now. We have covered over 10 schools so far, situated near Kullu. The main aim of these camps is to educate the population about disability...
My maiden visit to Kullu back in August 2011 was to begin the mountain biking expedition to Ladakh. Little did I know that Kullu was soon going to be my home. My first impression of "Handimachal" was the beautiful blue house across the busy street of...
Annual Day Celebrations - Day Star School Manali Day star school, Manali had their annual day celebrations on the 30 September. Handimachal was honored to be a part of this extravaganza by holding a disability awareness stall and a special dance performance...
On 3 December, the team of the Handimachal Kullu Therapy Unit organized a gathering of children families who are registered in the Unit and their families. This was a very successful event with eleven families present, refreshments were given and opportunities...
Sophie, an active member of our association La maison des Himalayas, was in Kullu and Manali in May, she took photographs and made video clips on various projects we are managing or sponsoring. I am happy to propose on our blog this humble video presentation,...
One month gone already! How time flies! To find my place in a new team, to get used to a new environment, a new life style and a new language: quite some challenges to me! Luckily, seriousness of work in the Unit and genuine kindness of people in Kullu...
This is already my second week of work in the Handimachal Unit, and already these few days have been rich in discoveries and prospectives... I began my volunteer mission by working with a young man called Ramneek (20) who is disabled with hemiplegia caused...
On the occasion of 8th World Autism Awareness Day, a painting and awareness program was held for special children and their parents nearby Kullu town. Handimachal, in partnership with Dahuadhar Nirmal Chhya Parents Association, Nav Chetna School, Kaar...
The Handimachal team is preparing a big event: for the first time in four years, they will be holding a disability awareness camp out of Kullu valley, in Lahaul district, on the other side of famous Rohtang pass. These three camps are being organised...
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...
I could never have anticipated the level of improvements made in Nav-Chetna over the past two months. While conditions are still far from perfect; with next door’s leaking water tank and the roaming cows continuing to turn the ground we use for sport...
A parents' workshop was organized at Handimachal on the 26th October, the topic being “Making Sense of the Senses’’. The target audience were parents of the children who have been diagnosed to be on the Autism Spectrum and children with Sensory Processing...
Dear friends and supporters of the Handimachal project, We all have been busy and there were little news posted on our blog but, believe me, there are indeed interesting news we want to share with you, so I propose a quick summary… Our « dream team »...
Do you know what APA means? It means Adapted Physical Activities. APA was first started in Canada during the seventies. The idea of APA is to use different kinds of physical activities and exercises which are adapted to a person with special needs to...
Three important facts should be highlighted this month: The level of attendance has been quite good lately, during the summer holiday, with 7 to 9 children receiving treatment every day in the Handimachal Kullu Therapy Unit - let's hope that once schools...
As Severine wrote in her last post, we are lucky to have in our team an additional OT volunteer, Catriona Helliwell, who will work together with Severine until mid-December, then on her own until mid-March 2011. While Severine and Emma are travelling...
