AGROFARM

AGROFARM – Outreach

“HELPING THE POOREST OF THE POOR”

An important goal of the AgroFarm is to provide food to the surrounding villages, to instill a sense of duty, responsibility, and community, and show that the poor and disabled can become self-sufficient and contribute to society. With this in mind, the children of Pathway inaugurated the program “Poor Helping Their Poor Brethren” in August 2002, which will donate rice and any surplus crop regularly to needy persons each month.

The AgroFarm is situated 90 km from Chennai in the sub-tropical Kanchipuram district, making it suitable for growing a variety of produce:

v   PADDY- RICE

v   CHILLI - PEPPERS

v   COCONUTS

v   BANANAS

v   JACKFRUIT

v   PEANUTS

v   MANGOES

v   LEMONS

v   VEGETABLES

v   SAPOTA

v   WATERMELONS

Farming capabilities include:

v   25 acres for horticulture

v   29 acres earmarked for rice, peanut,

          and Lentil cultivation

v   Smaller areas dedicated for growing vegetables

The yield from the Farm provides the children their daily intake of rice, which is the staple of the Indian diet. The Farm also contributes

towards the supply of fruits and vegetables.

SWIMMING POOL

We have a clean, large, and well maintained swimming pool is available for the benefit of our children.  The PE Teacher takes the children swimming on a periodic basis and they are taught various strokes such as freestyle, butterfly and breast stroke as well as how to stay afloat.  The children enjoy this learning this life-saving skill that also keeps them strong and healthy.  Especially during the weekend and during the hot summer season the children enjoy spending their time chilling out in the crystal clear waters of the swimming pool.

ART AND CRAFT

The greatest human need is self actualization.  The children are given freedom to express their creative powers and talents through painting, drawing, singing, dancing, clay modeling, mat weaving, and handicraft work.  Their creative work is exhibited every week in the public display area with due rewards and recognition.  Whenever guests arrive at our center they are treated to the pleasant sights of the various handiwork of our children.  Our honorary co founder and director has blessed the children with innovative products that freely capture and captivate the western market because of the excellent quality.

Community-based Rehabilitation

On average, the needs of the rural population differ from those of the urban for various reasons --contrasting socio-economic conditions, available occupations, access to healthcare, life ambitions, emphasis on schooling etc. Though mental and physical disabilities occur in both environments, individuals and families who live in rural India receive little in the way of relief or support.

Perceiving this deficit as an opportunity, for the past EIGHT years, Pathway has been implementing a “Community-based Rehabilitation” (CBR) program for individuals and families who live in rural Tamil Nadu. This program seeks to empower persons with disabilities without ‘removing’ them from their environment and helps provide tools to rural communities to assist such families and individuals.

Pathway develops customized programs by first by meeting with constituent partners to understand the community, the local culture, type of population, abilities, disabilities, types of occupation of the majority of the community, etc.  After this is studied, metrics for success are created and major stakeholders, such as parents, close relatives, or disabled individuals themselves, are identified.

Pathway is then able to provide professional teams comprised of medical and rehabilitation experts who visit communities several times a year. These teams assist communities in identifying persons with disabilities and then investing time to explain to parents and relatives the various aspect of their child's disability. Family members are trained to perform simple exercises. Training material is disseminated so that those disabled persons can receive basic help from their caretakers as the need arises.

The teams also stress prevention of disabilities, such as the need for good food for the mother and child, principles of cleanliness, public health and hygiene, clean water, the v

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Enrollment of our students in various online classes to improve their Math, Science, and English knowledge is being planned.  Partnership with US universities and expert teachers who train our students to be global citizens is a privilege offered in our online classroom.  The children are exposed to teachers from various cultures and they develop a broad perspective of life and a vast bank of knowledge from where they can always mobilize solutions to daily life problems.

AUDIOVISUAL CLASSES

Our teachers use the projector and big screen to bring alive to the children the lessons presented in their text books.  The viewing and hearing of these topics on the screen through life size images and real life situations are very much appreciated by the children and increase their desire and interest in learning.

MEDICAL

An MD physician and qualified nurse take care of the health needs of the children.  Quarterly medical checkups are done to screen them for ear, nose, throat, skin, eye, and other health issues.  A round-the-clock clinic caters to all health related routine as well as emergency needs of the children.  Health education is given to increase the awareness of the children to protect themselves from disease and keep themselves strong and healthy.  Periodic vaccinations are given to protect the children from chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, polio, and tetanus.

Special health and medical services are offered to the residents of the Sabin Rehabilitation Center for the Intellectually Disabled.  Physiotherapy assessments with treatment and occupational activities are offered to keep the residents in fit condition.  A well equipped physiotherapy center has been established specially for their usage with all the needed equipment.

DENTAL

State-of-the art dental equipment and an experienced dentist take care of the dental needs of the students twice a week.  Regular screenings are offered to the  230 persons on the Agro Farm.  Scaling, Filling, and Extractions are done.  Dental health education is offered to keep up the oral hygiene of the children.  Referrals are written to avail the services of a well equipped dental unit at a teaching hospital 5 kilometers from the center.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A trained physical education instructor helps the children keep physically fit.  They are given opportunities to excel in athletics and games.  Our children are very talented and have won many medals and championships.  They are encouraged to interact with nearby schools and other sports teams to acquire the skills of leadership, physical skills, abilities, and sportsmanship.  The children realize the importance of participation and doing their best within the rules and regulations with a healthy acceptance of the results of the game whether it be wining or losing.

RESIDENTIAL

A safe and comfortable hostel provides the children a home away from home.  Devoted and dedicated staff care for the needs of the children.  Water heaters, window netting, water filters, washing machines, mattresses, and lockers have been given so that the children have a cozy and homely place to stay.  A careful schedule has been planned to give enough time for the children to study, play, and rest.  A range of indoor and outdoor play equipment keep the children active and alert.  The children have regular visitors from home and go back for the annual vacation.  The vast farms and gardens surrounding the children keep them relaxed and refreshed.

GARDENING

A 60 acre farm with fields, groves, gardens, and a nursery offers all opportunities for our children and intellectually disabled residents to channel their energies into agricultural endeavors such as production of food, fuel, and fodder.  The beneficiaries feel soothed and rested by the wonderful green environment.  Nature is their second teacher and many valuable lessons for life are acquired from the blue skies, lofty trees, green grass, and colorful flowers.

BAKERY

A well equipped bakery and baker produce buns, bread, cakes, and other pastries for our children.  The children are happy to work and learn the vocational skills of baking.  The products of the bakery are eagerly acquired by various local customers who appreciate the great taste and hygienic preparation and packing.

TOY LIBRARY

The concept of Toy library was lingering for a long time. The role of toys in development of human mind is well known. Toys bring great change in the outlook of children as well as help in the growth of their imagination as well as stimulate their thought process. This being very true particularly in the case of children with intellectual disability. 

Although play has always been  an integral part of the regular pre-school curriculum, this has not been true for the child with disabilities. Play time at home also may be less available for the child who has special needs. Pathway has created a toy library believing in this method of Plat Therapy. This therapy acts as an intervention to help children with special needs to  strengthen adaptive behaviors and develop stronger social relationships. 

DINING HALL

An airy well ventilated clean dining hall with polished granite tables and attached steel stools provide a happy mealtime experience.  Nutritious balanced meals are provided for the children which they are able to relish in a hygienic environment.  Pure and safe water is offered to the children from a technologically updated RO water plant.  A team of efficient kitchen staff keep the kitchen and dining hall in spotlessly clean and clinical condition.

PLAYGROUND

A shady and protected playground with sandy surface and surrounded by plants and trees is utilized with much joy by our children.  Swings, slides, jungle gyms, merry-go-rounds, seesaws, and other play equipment keep them very happy and improve their strength and coordination.  Play materials and play courts are provided to help them participate in games such as cricket, football, volley ball, and shuttle as well as ball badminton.  Kho-kho and kabbadi are some of their favorite games.

A professional basket ball court has been installed for the children.  Indoor games like caroms and chess are also provided.  On rainy days various board games keep them involved and active.