Voice of SAP is working towards empowerment of Specially Abled People by enabling them with Assistive Devices and Surgical Interventions. So far VOSAP has changed the lives of 14,500+ Specially Abled People.
On 9th May 2022, Voice of Specially Abled People Inc. (VOSAP) and Rotary Club of Geetanjali Kolkata, District 3291 agreed to build cooperative and collaborative relations by signing a Memorandum of Association (MoU) for promoting the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and accelerating the achievement of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kolkata.
Under Project Jayatu, Rotary Club of Geetanjali Kolkata held an awareness camp to sensitize people about Disability, at Masidhat B M High School where 400+ students attended.
Rakesh SK, a student of Class 7th also joined the event with his father. Rakesh has cerebral Palsy since birth. His Father carried him to school everyday so he could keep studying but as he was getting older and heavy His father was not able to carry him to school.
Due to an impairment in his legs which prevented him from commuting to school from home, He discontinued his studies. Rakesh’s teacher, concerned about his studies, persuaded his father to join the awareness camp. At the Camp, the Volunteers met with Rakesh and his parents and saw that Rakesh had a strong desire to go to school and was very passionate about studying.
Rakesh’s father is a vegetable Vendor. He assured that if needed, he will push the boy to school and back in the vehicle every day. The school authorities also assured that they would make arrangements for him as necessary.
VOSAP Volunteer and President of Rotary Club of Geetanjali Kolkataa, Anjanaaji, was moved by the passion she saw in Rakesh and she took the initiative, spoke to school authorities, and submitted the Application to VOSAP to enable Rakesh with Cerebral Palsy Wheelchair.
VOSAP donated Cerebral Palsy Wheelchair and with help of Rotary Club of Geetanjali, Kolkata, this Wheelchair reached Rakesh on January 25th,2023. Rakesh was very happy to receive the wheelchair and it was a blissful moment for all when he operated the wheelchair by himself. His parents were in tears of joy and also very grateful. When his friends saw him on the wheelchair they were all excited, started Cheering Rakesh and were happy to welcome him back to school.
Rakesh is the first VOSAP Beneficiary in Kolkata and now we will extend help, enable more beneficiaries in Kolkata soon with efforts of our Partner, Rotary Club of Geetanjali Kolkataa.
Here is the glimpse of Rakesh trying to operate wheelchair by himself for the first time
