PROGRESS REPORT

Period – NOV 2014 TO FEB 2015.

The mission of the Osmosis Centre is to bridge the gap between the child’s level of learning and the demands of their school curriculum. The key strategy is to provide early intervention to children with learning issues, recognize the

strengths of the child and motivate them to overcome their difficulties. The task is huge as almost one in ten children are impacted by learning issues in school. With the right instructions and guidance, there is no limit to what a child can

do. The Centre is run by qualified staff who work along with the School authorities and Parents to identify and promote the areas in which the child is

most proficient and in a play way method, reach out to the students so that they gain confidence and shine in the area in which they have an inborn talent. The Osmosis centre has been working in this area for the last 14 years and was formally registered as a Public Trust in 2010 (Registration Number

E/7504/Vadodara). Regular assessments are carried out and appropriate modifications are made in the teaching methods in the child’s best interest.

Ideally Remedial Educational Therapy is beneficial when the student–teacher ratio is ONE: ONE. We carefully select teachers with the right attitude and training them is a continuous process.

During the period under report the Trust has made significant progress in the following areas:

Remedial Teaching : Today we are successfully imparting remedial help at 4 locations. The number of children taking advantage of Osmosis Centre is stated

below:

Name of Locations Students

Bharuch 27

Gattu Vidyalaya 20

Ankleshwar City 5

Sarvanaman School 1

Sponsored by G.A.C.L.* 5

Library Students 10

Total 68

* We have received a budget for 20 children from Lower Socio economic

background from GACL. Today we have a group of 8 teachers and the search for additional teachers is an ongoing process as we need to maintain the ideal student teacher ratio.

Workshop for teachers, parents & schools: - Parent’s meetings are held at regular intervals. Parent’s counseling at an individual level is a part of therapy.

We believe, “Mothers are the Best Teachers.” Many parents follow our home based program. On the other hand, some due to their own limitations can’t. We

have successfully had workshops in 2 schools, Queen of Angel’s Convent Higher Secondary School, Vadadla and Atmiya School, Zadeshwar for the teachers. This is mainly to spread awareness on Dyslexia and how one can

identify them at an early stage. A Parents workshop at Calorx Pre-School, Zadeshwar was held for the same.

In schools, our role is to identify children with Learning Difficulties. This is done through a short screening test in each class. In consultation with class

teachers, they are identified as children at risk. After this process their parents are called to the centre. With the Parent’s consent, their further assessment and therapy is planned.

This screening test was successfully conducted in 3 schools:

1) Amity School, Bharuch – Std. 1-4th. 2) Gattu School, Ankleshwar – Std. 1-4th. 3) GNFC School, Bharuch – Gujarati medium – Std. 1-4th.

4) GNFC School, Bharuch - English medium – Std. 1-4th. Public awareness and sensitization programs: - Working with children with

special needs is a sensitive field and creating awareness amongst in Society is a prime need. Integrating students with special needs into the main stream

school curriculum is a major issue. Parents of these children are unaware or often confused about the therapy process. A major event was organized at the G.N.F.C. Open-Air Auditorium/Theatre on 3rd January. Our target audience

included Doctors, Government Officials, School Principals, Trustees, Teachers and Parents. The Chief Guest was the Deputy Collector of Bharuch Shri N.R. Dhandal and the program comprised of a few dance shows by the children and

a play directed by Dr. Murtuza Railwaywala- Ajab Bacho ki Gazab Kahani, followed by a panel discussion on issues related with children with Special

Needs. The play brought out the problems in children with Learning Difficulties face and how one should handle them in the best possible way. It also highlighted the dictum- “Let’s not see the Disability, but celebrate the ability”

More than 500 people attended this program and the feedback was positive. The Main sponsor of the program was Dr Bharat Champaneria from Kakaba

hospital, Ankleshwar. The open air auditorium was provided by GNFC without any charges.

Visits by Eminent Personalities:- Mrs. Avantika Singh has visited our centre in Bharuch. Mrs. Trupti Almora & Mrs. Archana Patel, Trustees of Dhwani – a

School for Hearing Impaired have also visited our centre.

Outdoor Visitations:- To explore different methods to upgrade our centre and

adopt proven techniques a visit was organized to Bai Awabai Petit School and the Child Reach Centre in Mumbai. The school has a remedial centre within

the school premises which ideally each school should have. Earlier a visit was also made along with Educational Officials from Gandhinagar to visit the Maharashtra Dyslexia Association & Sion Hospital.

This was mainly to know the concessions available for Dyslexic Students.

Advertisements: A poster was designed and put up near the corner of

Zadeshwar Chowk to advertise that this important facility for children with special needs is available in Bharuch area. A brochure regarding our activities was also designed.

Occupational Therapy:- As mentioned earlier working with children with

special needs is a team effort. The team comprises of Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist and Special Educators. Considering that a large number of children need to visit cities like Baroda and Surat for

Occupational and Speech Therapy, the Osmosis Centre will be starting a section on Occupational Therapy in April 2015. Dr Mishra, Head of the Department– Occupational Therapy, S.P. University, Anand was consulted and

under his advice the necessary equipments have been procured. Dr Megha, who has recently completed a course in Occupational Therapy under him, will

take over this section.

Personnel recruited:- A full-time Administrator and a Computer Teacher has

been appointed.

Future Plans:- The efforts to reach out to all the children that need special

education are immense and the Centre has recognized that the challenge is to grow to a self sustaining stage. This will require careful financial planning as well as a steady but continuous increase in the students attending the

remedial sessions. Towards that the plans for the immediate future are: 1) Separate workshops for Parents, School Authorities and Special

Educators to spread awareness that learning issues can be satisfactorily resolved and all children can be trained to cope with the normal school curriculum.

2) Increase the enrollment at each of the Centres by approximately ~30 per cent and proportionately also increase the teaching staff.

3) Increase the learning aids at the Centre including the items in the Games

Library. 4) Speech Therapy Unit

5) A Vocational Training Centre 6) Developing a website.

The Osmosis Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of NARDES, the CSR wing of GNFC, GACL, ZEE ENTERPRISES LTD. & the Individual Donors for

their sponsorship without which it would not have been possible to carry out the above activities.

Annexures: a) Remedial Sessions.

b) Workshops with the Teachers & Parents. c) Brochure of the Center. d) Collector’s Visit to the Bharuch Centre.

e) Awareness Program on 3rd Jan. 2015 at G.N.F.C. Auditorium.

Remedial Session at the Bharuch Centre

Remedial Session at the Bharuch Centre

Remedial Session at Gattu Vidyalaya, Ankleshwar

Remedial Session at Gattu Vidyalaya, Ankleshwar

Parent’s Workshop – “Importance & Myths about I.Q. Testing

Parent’s meeting at the Bharuch Centre

Parent’s Awareness at Sanskar Bungalows

Teacher’s Workshop at Queen of Angel’s Convent School

At Teacher’s Workshop in Queen of Angel’s Convent School

Mrs. Avantika Singh (I.A.S.) the then COLLECTOR of Bharuch at our Centre

The Chief Guest of the Awareness Program – Shri . N. R. Dhandal, Dy. Collector Bharuch

Dance program by students of Osmosis on 3

rd Jan 2015

Play directed by Dr. Murtuza Railwaywala – “Ajab Bachchon ki Gajab Kahani.”

Acknowledging achievements of Ms. Sachi Shah, a former student of OSMOSIS

Audience at the Awareness Program