Deepam School

Every now and then, you have the opportunity to meet a person who isnpires by their presence and the belief in what they do. Today, I had such an opportunity meeting Angelika Ehrle. She is an occupational therapist from Germany who has been in Auroville for about 18 years. She, along with Silva, runs a school for children who are handicapped. The emotional energy from Angelika is warm, trusting and caring for the children that she has worked with over the years. Some of the children are now young adults and stil at the program. Most have, over time, been integrated into productive activities within the community.

Angelika Ehrle

She describes that the children often enter the school project malnoursihed. Their hemoglobins are very low and they often have iron deficiency. This is from the poor diet that often exists in the communities. As a result, initial efforts with the children are not about rehabilitation but rather about getting them healthy. There is a need to do the most basic work.

Theier goal is to reahbilitate the chidlren to the point where they can leave the program and operate within teh community. Some of the children come for full time efforts and others are offered services on an outpatient basis. They may need suppotrs such as hearing aids.

She also talks about having to take the children now and again to one of the governemnt hospitals where conditions can be quite deplorable - feces and vomit on the hallway floors, for example. Families may ahve to travel significant distances and wait for hours. If the family member is admitted, then someone has to stay to look after needs such as food as the hospital does not addrses that. Surgeries are urgent only.

There is a growing second tier of private hospitals for those who can afford them (Hey Canadians, does that sound familiar).

The children are open, warm and delightful.

This is one of the longer term particpants. Her picture appears in the Deepam brochure and she was delighted to show me.

This young lady came to the program late. Her eyesight could not be repaired. She was tried in a community schooling arrangement but that did not work out. Ultimately, they have hired her in the kitchen where she is proudly working and earning a living.

The program is run entirely on donations. Thus, they fundraise from wherever they have contacts. The funds are well spent. Initially Angelika raised money from her own relatives in Germany.\

They also have volunteers coming from various countries. There were two younf ladies from Germany who were volunteering in the day care. The program only takes professionals who can volunteer for at least 6 months and non professionals for a year. This is done because it can take the children 3-4 months to build a relationship.

I was impressed with what I saw, the care the children receive and the dedication of those who work with the children. Have a look at the website http://www.auroville.org/health/care_disabled.htm

Next, I will have an oppotrunity to meet with some people who are working on the issues of child abuse.