How to change a life

Many people think (and since they don’t get any chance to prove it otherwise the government seems to think it, too) that intellectually disabled people are good for nothing and that therefore they are not worth the effort. But these people don’t experience what we see. They don’t know how a simple task, a small employment can change the behaviour, even the life of people with intellectual disabilities. Maybe they don’t really care and would never take the time to experience.

But luckily, there are also other people. People who care, People who even try and do their best so that the lives of our community members can be changed. We surly work for that and it is the change in behaviour, the happy smile on their faces, the sheer naturalness with which our members start to do their daily tasks that proves, that we are doing a good thing, maybe even the right thing.

Today we want to introduce one of our members to you whose changes in behaviour and in attitude have been simply astonishing.

First, there is Sugumar. Sugumar came to us a few months back, one of our volunteers referred him to us. He has a mild intellectual disability, which made it hard for his family to take care of him. They were unsupportive and not understanding the challenges and barriers Sugumar was facing. Their “problems” ended with Sugumar’s running away from home. After that his very own problems and challenges began. He stayed on the street for 15 years. He had nobody, was starving because he didn’t have anything to eat and even ended up in prison. His life seemed to be in a spiral downwards and nobody was willing to help him.

That was, until he came to us. We couldn’t do much for him, just give him a place to stay, a place where he was and is accepted as he is, where he lives together with people who face the same challenges. In our community everyone is there for the others and helps where he or she can. But there are also some rules. It took some time, some discussions for Sugumar to accept this but when he did and when he finally decided that he really wanted to become a part of the Sristi Village, everything changed.

His behaviour, his attitude, his life. He is now one of the happiest persons living in our community. He is always helping on the field, willing to learn more skills and eager to make everything right. He is not only caring for himself but is there for others when they need help, always supporting.

We are really happy he is accepting us as his family!