Congratulations on 10th anniversary celebrations!

This is the note we have received from one of our volunteers Mr Bahadur who has many years of experience in the manufacturing sector – Shanti

Dear Ms. Shanti and Mr. Dipesh,

Let me be grateful to you for giving me an opportunity to witness and enjoy the wonderful cultural programme performed by the people of EnAble India.
Decades of your effort was quite visible in putting confidence in your people both on and off stage. Shanti’s commentary added value to the mute performances, which in itself was of high standard.

I could also learn about the multi-talent of both of you during the programme.

The energy and enthusiasm of all in the hall till the end of the programme showed their involvement. My hearty congratulations.

It was rightly concluded with "Om Shanti Om"

With kind regards,
R S Bahadur

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Kudos on EnAble India 10th anniversary celebration

Being in the communication field I always thought that some phrases were overused. So when we chose ‘celebration of human spirit’ I took it as a good choice of words. But yesterday I realized why this phrase was coined. It was coined for lifetime moments ( as Dipesh sir said ) like what we experienced yesterday (Dec 20, 2009). All boundaries dissolved. No one could figure out who were the candidates, staff, volunteers or visitors. EVERYONE participated with the same spirit.

Kudos to the volunteers for their tireless efforts, sharp focus and ensuring candidates’ safety and upholding the ‘celebration of ‘human spirit.’

–        Anju Khemani, Program officer, EnAble India

I felt ecstatic about yesterday’s event. It was completely an inclusive event. The event was successful due to sincere involvement of all EI staff and EI volunteers. I would like to thank all volunteers, staff and more over all candidates and people who supported us to make this celebration splendid.

–        Praveen Kumar, Specialist-Training and Solutions, EnAble India

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The unforgettable day where the celebration of the human spirit came alive

We celebrated 10 years of EnAble India on SUNDAY, Dec 20, 2009. When we decided to celebrate this event, we knew what we did not want: speeches eulogizing EnAble India, podium with dignitaries. We wanted: equality for all, inclusion for all, participation from all.

 

So here are the TOP ten reasons why I think the EnAble India Day rocked

–        Every person, the candidates with disability, volunteers, staff and companies were the chief guest. The theme was the celebration of the human spirit and wow! It definitely was!

–        The whole event was planned, organized and executed by staff, volunteers and our candidates. It was difficult to make out who had organized the event. Better still, the founder (moi, myself) was not involved in any aspect of the planning of the event (hmmm.. tells you the real ingredients required for success!)

–        Everybody participated in the inclusive games/sports. It was difficult to stop the heats and move on to the finals in the blindfold game or the obstacle wheelchair game or the musical run-around!

–        The inclusion for ALL was amazing – everything spoken in English was repeated in Kannada as well as sign language. Every visual aspect of the game and skits/drama were spoken or dramatized “in style” for the visually impaired. Audio aspects like indicating the “start of music in the musical run-around” was done using a light bulb.

–        The entertainment program was inspiring – the talent by every visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically disabled and other participants (volunteers) was simply amazing. The EI dance saw EI staff participate with volunteers and candidates where there was a mix of visually impaired, low vision, hard of hearing, hearing impaired, physically disabled folks in the same dance!

–        The impromptu dancing especially towards the end when the floor was open to all. Visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically disabled, the shy folks, managing trustee, trustee, staff  – everybody danced!

–        The high voltage levels of everybody from 10 am till (can you believe it) 8 pm! The whistles, encouragement, madness all around!

–        The knowledge sharing where candidates gave us invaluable inputs on what has been good so far and how we can improve. The genuine pride that candidates felt for EnAble India was touching.

–        The pride and emotions just under the surface – for the potential that each of the participants displayed, for the genuine emotions that people had towards EnAble India

–        For me – it was most memorable because I saw freedom on people’s faces. Free of inhibitions, people were just themselves – pure and natural!

– Shanti Raghavan, Founder, Managing Trustee, EnAble India  | Ashoka Fellow

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Enable India to enable China?

Recently, IBM China senior managers met me and were highly impressed with the employability training that Enable India conducts. They have invited us to have talks with the Chinese government and to aid them in increasing employability in their employees with disability. As per their laws, they HAVE to take persons with disability (pwd) into their organization. However, due to lack of proper training and development, the pwd are not able to contribute. I have been a little hesitant to commit to this since we have SO MUCH work to do here in India! When I conveyed this to Enable India staff members, many of them told me that “the disabled in China also require our help. We must help and share what we can” – Hats off to them for their inclusive thoughts! So perhaps it is written that one day Enable India to enable China? Well, it is our privilege to enable all! 

– Shanti Raghavan

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