Ummeed Child Development Center

Ummeed Child Development Center recently hosted faculty members Ms. Karma Lhamo, Ms. Khandu Dorji, and Dr. Karma Jigyel from the Inclusive Education department at Paro College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan, for an inspiring 'Learning Visit' from 21st to 25th October 2024. 🌏✨ Throughout the week, the faculty members engaged with Ummeed’s approaches to supporting children with behavioral challenges, explored services for children with disabilities, and participated in sessions on Narrative Ideas & Mental Health, Autism Intervention, and Inclusive Classroom Practices. They also visited a UIFP school, observing inclusive practices firsthand and connecting with stakeholders. This enriching exchange has not only strengthened our shared vision of inclusive education but also created lasting friendships and a deeper cultural understanding. It was a truly wonderful week, filled with learning, collaboration, and a commitment to making a difference together. #InclusiveEducation #UmmeedCDC #CrossCulturalLearning #BhutanAndIndia

#BuildingBridgesTowardsInclusiveEducation “Children's voices often don't get caught in decisions because they are not seen as able decision makers. But #children are able to state so many things. They are able to be confident, they are able to share their #emotions. We expect them to be able to perform in exams, we expect them to #obey, we expect them to learn and listen and do all of that. But then we don't expect them to #voice an #opinion. Our expectations are very one sided, things that work for us and not things that may also work for the child. And maybe there, some disconnect lies because children are able to articulate and being able to understand from children about their own learning experiences, about their own perspectives, might probably enrich our education system so much because having them embedded will really, really help.” - Seema N., Associate Director, School Services, Ummeed Child Development Center Video Description: The 57-second reel features Seema. She has black and brown hair, is wearing a green shirt seated on a chair against a backdrop of colourful picture books.

Our Diwali celebrations began with vibrant activities, including a Diya painting competition and engaging role-play sessions at Ummeed Child Development Center Families came together in high spirits, expressing joy and appreciation for the chance to celebrate Diwali as a community. The event truly embodied the festive spirit, filling the atmosphere with warmth and shared happiness. Ritu Vig Pranit Vig

Register for the #WalkforUmmeed We are pleased to inform you that the 15th edition of the 55 KM Walk for UMMEED will be held on Saturday, 11th January 2025 on the beaches of South #Goa. It is a walk to raise awareness about developmental #disabilities and support Ummeed's work with children and families. To register for the Walk for Ummeed, email us at yugma.malde@ummeed.org / praveen.taula@ummeed.org or call us on +91 98195 45069 (Yugma) / +91 98333 40064 (Praveen) #RegisterNow “I have never seen Goa, walked on a beach at five in the #morning with absolutely zero natural light, just the shine of the #moon on the #water walking along the beach in pitch darkness with headlamps. It was #magical. I mean, it was just something that I would have never got to do had I not signed up for the Walk [for Ummeed]. Great #conversations happen. You get to meet lots of interesting people because you're walking with them for extended periods of time. You can actually have some pretty deep conversations and really get to know people. So we just sang every #song that we knew the lyrics to. Mostly #Beatles and stuff from our generation. Basically just that helped us to pass the time and reach the end. And it was a really fun way to finish. The whole experience of going from #dawn to #dusk on a beach, spending an entire day walking the length and breadth of a beach. It's just a unique experience.” - Moneisha Gandhi Moneisha is mum to Mihaan, 19 who has Down Syndrome. She is co-founder of Buddy Up, a friendship app for people with disabilities and their caregivers. She also volunteers at the Ummeed family resource centre.

#BuildingBridgesTowardsInclusiveEducation "When I was young, I faced some challenges in school. My teachers didn't understand that children can be #different, that they can #learn and understand in different ways. They thought that every #child should do every task in the same way. And those who couldn't were #punished. I didn't think this was right. And then when I grew up, I met children who faced the same challenges. Their parents and teachers were saying the same thing again that the child did not want to do it [a particular task], the child is #lazy. But I didn't think that was right. I felt that something needed to change. Teachers and parents should understand that there are differences and how, if we support them in the right way, then only that child will be able to do it. Now we are [School Services Team at Ummeed] trying to make teachers in every #classroom understand that children can learn differently, understand differently. Let's #accept that. Let's support every child in the right way." [translated from the original video in Hindi] - Tayzeem Rasool, Trainer, School Services, Ummeed Child Development Center Video Description: The 58-second reel features Tayzeem. He has black hair, is wearing a green shirt, seated on a chair against a backdrop of colourful picture books.

#BuildingBridgesTowardsInclusiveEducation “Mujhe lagta hai #teachers ko aise #support kiya ja sakta hai [through] spaces for teachers #wellbeing. Spaces ho jaha par teachers ko apne challenges bhi rakhne ka mauka mile. It is not ki kya acha chal raha hai classroom because classroom mey bhi bahut saare challenges bhi aate hai. To unke #challenges ko #acknowledge kiya jaaye jab voh share kar rahe hai. It's not jab koi teacher aakar bata raha hai ki nahi mere saath yeh ho gaya and the administrator or the leader just says it's okay, it happens. It is fine to say that, but at the same time provide support. Just #listen to them and make them feel #heard. To teachers ko sunna, teachers ko support karna, unke challenges ko acknowledge karna. Unke liye wellbeing spaces rakhna and at the same time making sure ki jab teacher school ke time bahar jab voh chale gaye hai to aur unke upar hum kaam na de, ki nahi kal subah tak aapko yeh submit karna hai because they use their family time while they're doing all of this [school] work and then unka personal life aur voh professional life #balance nahi ho pata. To understanding ki theek hai teacher ka bhi ek #boundary hai the teacher can work for a particular hour [timing] and not while they are at home.” - Sadekha Shaikh, Trainer, School Services, Ummeed Child Development Center Video Description: The 59-second reel features Sadekha. She has black hair, is wearing a yellow suit with a beaded necklace, seated on a chair against a backdrop of colourful picture books.

Apply for the Ummeed Inclusion Fellowship Program 2025-2027. Unlock the beauty of diversity and inclusion in India’s school spaces! Read the brochure for indepth details. Click here to apply - https://lnkd.in/dvSqbNFp #Ummeed #UIFP #UIFPnewbatch #applicationsopen

Apply for the Ummeed Inclusion Fellowship Program 2025-2027. Application OPEN Now! Our Differences are our Strength.   Click here to apply - https://lnkd.in/dvSqbNFp #Ummeed #UIFP #UIFPnewbatch #applicationsopen

#BuildingBridgesTowardsInclusiveEducation “Oh, it's a big #no for me. Big no. Corporal #punishment, physical [punishment] or not only physical, emotional bhi [punishment]. Agar aap kisi bache ko bhale hi maar nahi rahe ho, bol rahe ho ki school mey maarna allowed nahi hai to mein maar nahi rahi. Lekin agar aap unko publicly khade hokar insult kar rahe ho ki yeh kya hai, yeh tumne kya pehena hai, yeh kaisa jawaab diya. Itna bhi nahi aata kya. These are #emotional things that you're doing with them. This is also a no no, aap nahi kar sakte. Agar us bache ki jagah koi #adult hota aap unko aisa bol paate? Nahi bol paate. To aap us bache ko bhi mat bolo. There is something called as #student #agency. Respect that. Ensure that the child is not feeling insulted. Ensure that they're feeling safe. Agar aapko koi cheez achi nahi lag rahi hai us bache ki, talk to them respectfully and use #respectful language, tell them. Kyonki bahut baar hota hai, bachey classroom mey ek dusre ko push kar rahe hai, ya maar rahe hai ya gaali de rahe hai aur us waqt aapko gussa aayega. Par apne gusse ko control mey rakhe, bache se baat kare, puche, kyon kar raha hai, kya reason tha, kyon unhone yeh kiya, kyon kisi ko gaali di, kyon maara, try to understand voh kaha se aa rahe hai and make it a conversation instead of having it more like I am shouting, I'm yelling, I'm an adult and you will have to listen to me. Vo nahi hona chahiye classroom mey.” - Preeti Baghel, Trainer, School Services, Ummeed Child Development Center Video Description: The 59-second reel features Preeti. She has black hair, is wearing a red shirt, seated on a chair against a backdrop of colourful picture books

#BuildingBridgesTowardsInclusiveEducation “#Inclusion is not just about being in the same physical space. It's not about children just being in one group on one end and one or two kids being on the side doing their own thing. Inclusion is about bonding #meaningfully, engaging, learning, doing things #together meaningfully. I often describe it as inclusion is not just about being invited to the #party, but it's really wanting to #dance. It is about a sense of feeling #safe and welcomed and wanting to be a part of the mix. It is about celebrating #diversity. On the flip side, though, there is also this piece about talking about inclusion. And I don't like talking about inclusion because it does mean that there's a group of us on the inside who get to actually decide who else needs to be a part of this group. And I think that's not fair. People should, children should be sort of fitting into the fabric of #society, weaving into it very naturally. And really, diversity needs to be celebrated. Oftentimes we don't end up doing that in our culture.” - Shamin Mehrotra, School Outreach Director and Senior Counsellor, Ummeed Child Development Center Video Description: The 55-second reel features Shamin. She has black and brown hair, is wearing a pink shirt, seated on a chair against a backdrop of colourful picture books.