Kolhapur

The Total numbers of students is 125 and there are 3 units in the school

Swayam School forthe Mentally Challenged

The Swayam School for the mentally challenged was started in the year 1990 and is part of the Red Cross Society, Kolhapur Chapter.

There are 50 children in this school. These children have a syllabus which is designed depending on their mental capability and each child is taught, accordingly. This helps in bringing out the capability of the children. These children are made to interact with normal children so that they learn from them. All the festivals are celebrated here and the highlight is the Annual Gathering which is held at a public place so that the people of Kolhapur get a glimpse of the various capabilities of the children. The teachers put in a lot of effort to teach singing and dancing to these children.

The president of the school is the Collector of Kolhapur and the committee comprisesof eminent personalities including doctors, rotary club members etc. and have contributed to provide variousfacilities. Medical checkup for the children is also done at the Civil Hospital and medicines are provided for.

Cerebral Palsy Unit

The school has a separate division for cerebral palsy and 17 Children are enrolled here. The school employs teachers to see that the children are looked after and a honorary Physio therapist to try and make the children as physically mobile as possible.

Work Shop for Special Children

After the age of 18 the students are enrolled into the Work Shop division which comprises of 58 Children. Here the students are taught various skills like candle making, flower making, Ganapatiidol making etc. Last year a painting exhibition displaying the art of the children was very well received. The main intention is to see that the children become financially independent and can look after themselves. A part of the proceeds of these activities are given to the children.

All efforts are made to see that the children are well looked after and are made self-sufficient.

The Hon. Secretary, office bearers and volunteers of IRCS, Kolhapur devote their time, finances and personal participation in these 3 units.

Barshi

BadhirMukVidyalaya, Barshi (School for hearing impaired)

Residential school with all facilities is recognized by the Government of Maharashtra.

School classes are from Pre-primary, First, Second, Third and Fourth grade, Middle school – 1 to 7 standard. Students’ strength is 109 (residential and day scholar). Teaching staff are 19 and non-teaching staff are 23.

Pune

RED CROSS SCHOOL FOR HEARING IMPAIRED

Indian Red Cross Society’s School for the Deaf at M G Road is a unique project of the Pune DistrictBranch of the Indian Red Cross Society. School enjoys the recognition as one of thebest schools for the hearing impaired in Pune.

IRCS School for Deaf was established in 1976. It started with one student and two teachers. The school was run on no grant basis, until in 1984. Pune ZillaSamajKalyan gave approval to start the school. Later by 1995 the numbers of students were75 and teachers were 15 in number.

The school widened its horizons by startingStd10th in 2008 on a no grant basis including a computer center in 2016.

In 2020 the school employed an expert speech therapist for all round development of students and prepares them for life lessons. The following activities were planned and executed. Educational aids, speech training and therapy,Audiometry, e-learning, sign language development and arranging educational and field visits.

Organizing cultural events science projects art, craft, painting,handicraft, sewing, rangoli, origami, plasticinemodeling, Fretwork Fabric, Flower making, kite making etc. Interschool sports competitions were held and the students participated enthusiastically and won several prizes.

Blee TV-App: This wasa unique programme wherein using vibration belts students were trained in classical dance, which they performed aestheticallyin Bangalore through Lions Club.

The Indian Red Cross Society takes care of Nutritional meals of the students, safe transportation by employing rickshaws and vans, supplying school uniforms. Arranging for free medical checkup,hearing aids free of cost etc.

Proposed Project of Construction of New School

Proposed Project of Construction of New School building at village Munjeri, Lullanagar to house school for Deaf and Medical facilities.

The Ministry of Defence Government of India has leased approx., 2 acres land on 90 years lease. All the necessary approvals for the buildingplan is obtained and the work of construction will begin in February 2021.

The School will be well equipped with computer center, facilities for training of skills and arts, laboratories, library, gymnasium, auditorium, school ground, etc., to make it a model school.

The existing school at M G Road is proposed to be shifted to the new site and vocational training and a Skill development Centre, Disaster Management, First Aid Training, Vaccination Centre, Hospice, Hemophilia/ Thalassemia testing & treatment, Dental Department, Opthal Department, Physiotherapy is envisaged in this new project.