Virtues Maketh Man
Virtues When Valued Enhances Your Character
Have you ever felt positive beams overwhelmingly surround you – well I have lately started feeling that exactly.
It was a mid-week when I got to speak to Mr KK Nayak, regarding a writing assignment. However in a couple of minutes the course of our conversation changed to my parenting consultation. Mr Nayak asked me if I would be interested in visiting his school for the specially -abled.
Would you believe if I tell you it took just four days for me to turn up visiting the school?
And only moments hence to get greatly impressed!
How Aakansha Began
This was my first question when I saw the dedication with which each of the facilities for the students was personalized.
“It all started with a promise I made to my friend” says Mr Nayak says
His friend had asked him if he could help his specially- abled child and Mr Nayak took it upon him to help.
He said he will and now stands tall with two campuses and supports students from various walks of life to find a way to carry on with their life – with an objective. Around 93 students in main school campus and 85 in the rural centre which is located in Dharsiwa
I know you are as surprised as and wondering would anyone go about doing this much for a word?
Well, Mr Nayak says he is been so ever since his childhood. “It was in my 9th standard that I came across a story called Value Of Words. I was so much captivated by the idea that I made commitment my lifestyle”. He states, “Words mean everything to me and once I give a word I make it my duty to fulfil it”.
He further adds,” Although I generally plan ahead before committing to something, at times I do believe that divine forces guide you through certain instantaneous decisions. Aakansha was one such sudden decision and I was totally devoted in making my words come true”.
So what started as a promise took off with one student, an attender and a teacher. 24 years and here is Aakansha , two campuses, well equipped with facilities for training children and adults who have problems with their sensory skills, motor skills and even those who have met an accident and need physical therapy to revert to normalcy.
“Most classes are done on one-on-one basis” says Mrs Padma, who has been with the institution for 24 years. “We make sure the child knows his/her way without having to be helped”.
- I could see special tiles on floor that would guide the blind children to their classes.
- Therapists working on children with down syndrome
- Training given to children with hearing impairment
- One that most awed me was the facility to train a child who is having problem with seeing, listening and speaking, these children categorised as –DEAF BLIND have very slow development – here at Aakansha they teach such children to learn by touch and respond to a situation.
- Children are given training to read, write, type in computers, dance, sew and do different crafts.
- Every teacher and trainer is well qualified for the job and knows exactly what they are doing and whom they cater.
- Teacher training classes for coaching teachers to teach these children is also offered
And How Is This Possible With His Busy Schedule?
Well, of course he points towards his wife. Mrs Sadhana Nayak has been a pillar of support to Aakansha, who has taken up her husband’s dream as her own. She has gone all the way to complete BEd and MEd for teaching specially-abled children, after starting the institution.
She takes care of the management and smooth running as well as the teacher training part.
Students are brought to school in school buses and dropped back in the evening. Apart from this there are out patients who take up treatment from physiotherapy to various other therapies from time to time.
What was interesting in Aakansha for me was the diaspora of students in the school. I could see different age groups (from 5 to 55), different issues and different walks of life getting ready to face the society with more confidence and live a better life.
I have a strong belief that every individual has a purpose in this life and to find that purpose and pursue it with dedication is something every human being aims at. Mr Nayak seems to have found it and with the support of his wife is industriously bringing smiles in the lives of – not only the affected children- but also their complete family.
