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Category Archives: Contest

Finding “Ability” in Disability : Diya Foundation

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by monikamanchanda in blogging, Causes to Champion, Contest, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

blogging, contest

I first heard about Diya Foundation about an year ago from a friend who works very closely with them. With their motto being “FROM DISABILITY TO DIFFERENT ABILITIES” ,Diya Foundation is a Vocational Training Center in Bangalore providing training and employment to intellectually challenged individuals. Founded in 1999, DIYA is a registered charitable trust. After being told about it and thinking I must do something, I promptly forgot about it until I met Sarah, the force behind Diya in the GS-ISB 10K women program.

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Sara, started her career at the age of 18 as stenographer after completing BA(Eng) but somewhere she wanted to do more and after seven years of work she felt the need to do something more worthwhile with my life, after strong resistance from her family she joined Convent of Jesus and Mary, Special School as a volunteer. She says “The initial reaction of nervousness and fear when I first met these special children of whether I would be able to work and understand them dissolved into love and a strong determination to do something  when I saw how loving, trusting and affectionate they were. What really called to me was the challenge in making the difference in their lives, in not giving up and in the firm belief that each and everyone of them is trainable”.  After a year of volunteering she was sure this was her calling and did  B.Ed. in Special Education from SNDT Women’s University, Bombay and continued with Jesus & Mary. Over time she realized that once a special child reaches between the age of 14 to 18, schools ask them to leave. She says “As special educators in schools we focus on teaching them functional academics and not on work skills which would help them get jobs so once they leave the school program there is nothing available and nowhere to go. This where the dream of Diya Foundation began. At Diya the focus is on training in work skills and employment”

 She adds “ Diya was started in March 1999 on a initial contribution of Rs.1000/- each from the 3 board members. The challenge was in getting materials for pre-voc training and the trainees were initially charged a fee of Rs.150 per month. “

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She says the journey of Diya has been amazing, From 3 trainees to 60 trainees; from the initial  Rs.3000/- to Rs. 35,00,000/- is where Diya has reached in 14 years. From searching for trainees to having a waiting list. Diya today has made a difference in many families, bringing their lives back to them in some ways.  At diya, Each trainee’s program is planned according to his/her strengths and daily goals and targets are set accordingly, they flourish and learn to draw from their strengths and weakness in their own ways

When asked about some of her favorite memories she says “Memories that will always remain are the ‘eureka’ moments in my trainees’ lives : that first eye contact, the first conversation initiated, the first time a work task was initiated or when they learned to tie the cords on a bag and hammer in the rivets. It reinforces all my beliefs that you do not have to go out into the world and do great things and make great changes. It all begins with every small mile-stone that my students achieve in their lives “

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While recalling the challenges she faced she says “The initial challenges were in getting in trainees, trainers, funding to run. Then as Diya began to grow the challenge was in finding a permanent  place. Once Diya began training students on vocational skills and started making recycled paper products, candles, we stopped charging them a fee and then the challenge was in marketing products and paying them a stipend to give them a sense of working and earning. Today the biggest challenge is still in finding a permanent place. Diya has moved for the seventh time in 14 years. Another challenge is finding job opportunities for our trained special adults. Corporates are wary of hiring the mentally challenged as they are afraid that they will not be able to fire them if they do not perform”

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Sarah has many dreams for Diya, she wants to Diya to have their own employment options wherein the trainees will be placed after training. She wants Diya to be in a place where they would never to have to say ‘no’ to a specially abled individual looking for training and work opportunities. She says “Today we have started two such work options: one is Diya Innovations Pvt Ltd – a gifting company – the marketing and employment arm of Diya Foundation and the sustainability model of Diya Foundation. The second work option is EKTA – our Self-help Group started with parents of our special adults and underprivileged women”

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Sara for me is true woman of independence and however cliché it might sound, the women of substance who wants to bring independence in not just her life but in everyone around hers too and if you would want to make Sara’s dream true you can donate here, I have pledged that if I win I will add that to Diya’s kitty and this season that is where I will volunteer too. Come join in making the world a better place, making Sara’s dream come true

For more information on Diya and  their products, check out their websiste http://www.diyafoundation-india.org/ and view this brilliant and touching video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKq0sKanqWo

This post Written for the Indiblogeshwaris Ladies Independence Special Contest in association with http://womenentrepreneursinindia.com/

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Four Fountain Spa Contest – Results

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by monikamanchanda in blogging, Contest

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

blogging, contest, four fountain

So the results are here

Drumrolls for R’s Mom and Mohsina Yasmin please

here are the winning responses (selected by Four Fountain Spa team)

Mohsina said

It would definitely be my husband . Hubby is a Training Coach and hence stands on his two feet for a gruelling 9-10 hours every day , 25 days of the month . It doesn’t end there , he hops from one airport to another through out the month and sleeps at 10 different hotels all by himself . So he’s literally on his feet for about 12 hrs every day , training those who are on their feet for a job in sales at electronic stores selling iPads/iphones/macs etc .
I have never met a more sincere & passionate hardworking human being . To top it all , his love and commitment to the marriage is no less than his job . I’m not sure if i’m the perfect candidate with my little write-up but he’s such a perfect blessing :)

R’s Mom said

Ah Interesting eh? I can think of a 100 people I really want to gift the spa coupon to, but the one who tops the list is my mother in law.

1. She has NEVER been to a spa ever
2. She doesnt believe in spas and massages, she says they are a luxury and believes she cant afford them :)
3. She is one of the most hard working woman, I have met in my life. Wherever she goes, she is always helping out, doing things, etc etc. I havent seen her sit still for a minute

I think she needs a break, she needs to experience the bliss of going to a spa and she needs to learn to sit back and enjoy some tender love and care and learn what pampering is all about

 

congratulations to the winners and please do mail Sakina at sakina.b@thefourfountains.in and she will send you the e-vouchers

And thank you so much everyone for taking part in the contest

 

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Four Fountain Spa Review & A Contest

29 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by monikamanchanda in Contest

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

contest, four fountain, giveaway, spa, sponsored review

Well who doesn’t like Spa’s, I love my regular dose of pampering at the spa. The relaxation with a massage, so when I was offered to try out the “Four Fountain Spa” long long ago I thought I must go and then happily forgot about it. Yes that’s typical of me and later many months later when I was going through my emails I chanced upon the email again (along with a follow-up too, bad me) and decided to try the spa out. They have branches which are widely spread and I visited the Kormangala branch.

The first look when you enter the place is that its clean and very efficiently designed with a good use of space. It’s not a large space but one doesn’t feel it because of the way they have managed space. The person on the reception was polite and well-informed of the process. I was taken for a small consultation where my routine and diet was understood post which I was suggested a treatment.

Coming to the treatment rooms, again basic but clean and well-managed. The person who gave me the massage was well trained and knew her stuff. I loved the massage and experienced exactly what they had promised an hour or so of bliss.

I have gone back couple of times post that and considering its so close to my house I think I am gonna keep going back too

After this experience when they asked me if I would like to host a contest and giveaway on my blog, I was like why not

So here is the question for you, answer and you could win an hour of bliss too.

Tell us why we should give this voucher to someone you think really needs it.

So think of someone you would want to gift this voucher too and let us know with a reason in comments below.

There are two vouchers up for grabs so put your thinking caps on and start typing

The contest is valid across India and the vouchers can be redeemed at the centers mentioned at their website

The winners will be decided by Four Fountain team and the decision will be final

The last date for entering the contest is 7th June, 2013

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Me, Myself and me

bundle of contradictions, a working independent woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a traveler and ya a blogger :)

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