Inspiration found in Hyderabad

My trip started and concluded in Hyderabad. A random city in India for many tourists to choose, but I had a reason. To visit an organization that now runs foster homes for children who are orphaned, in which most have a disability. I'm so pleased to say this isn't an orphanage anymore. The charity is Sarah's Covenant Homes, and a friend of mine has been volunteering the past year of her life heading a foster home with another girl, were they are the primary caregivers for 8 children all with disabilities. I'm sure I won't be seeing Nikki in Canada again for many many years as she is head over heels in love with these children and it's amazing that this organization has realized the importance of children having this love in their lives. Since Nikki has been in India I have encouraged her to ask me anything she needs incase I can shed any insight on how to help her children develop. To be honest it's something that I could definitely see myself doing if I was a few years younger to, but I've now moved on to that next stage in life and anything I can do to help these wonderful volunteers is nothing compared to what these girls are actually doing. It is rare to see people so young willing to sacrifice their life in North America, to devote themselves to children who they want to help. I know where they are at and where these girls want to be. When I was 19 I went to New York State and worked in a special needs camp, and from this point my life was changed forever. I was addicted to the enjoyment these people brought to life, how I learnt so much everyday, and the people who work with you in the field are so amazing, fun and passionate, that it's such an addictive world to be in. I then looked to work in the field moving forwards and so many things have stemmed from this one summer in 2004. I've been in Uganda and Vietnam on volunteer projects helping in orphanages and schools, and been touched by a few certain children, that I knew I would one day adopt. When Matt and I lived in Mauritius we fell in love with all the children in the school, but there were two orphans who had special places in our hearts. When you are with two boys full of life, who you know have nothing of their own, who have so much potential which people fail to see, you can't help but dream of the life you could give them. As I said we cared deeply for the other children also, but we worried for the future of these two, we couldn't help not to. From this point I've always known you can definitely love a child as your own and only want everything for them, and feel pain if you ever see them sad. People often tell me it's not the same as loving a child that you nurtured for 9 months, but if have to disagree, and I hope I am right. I hope people understand that these children can be loved and will be loved and they will change your world forever. I still think of my boys in Mauritius and dream of what life would be like if they were in it. It's my biggest regret not having them in my life, but there were lots of reasons adopting any of them would have fallen through. Me being only 24 one of them, but I will one day adopt a child into my home. A child with special needs is definitely welcome, but when I was 24 this could not of been a financially stable option, and to be honest even not even now, but this will always be a consideration to my future, which I am preparing for.
  Nikki's has continued to email me while she's away and I have tried to give as much knowledge as I can from the different areas of my previous and current career. I have followed her blog, her Facebook posts, and signed up for the updates of the charity itself, and see the beauty in all of her children, that in a way they already had a space in my heart. I fundraised to send money to help her, and I invested in a lot of things to donate, as well as collected donations from friends.
 I had planned to work with SCH for longer but I was convinced this would be my only ever visit to India so wanted to see some of it, and of course learn from the roots of yoga. Now let's look at it this way, I fell in love with a puppy I was with for two weeks, imagine if I was these kids for one month! I will admit I was scared of the attachment I would feel.
  I stopped in Hyderabad on my first day to drop of donations and meet the kids and offer some advice to Nikki and Tori based on their goals. It gave me a sense of their routine and their layout. In all honesty I couldn't think anyone else would be doing a better job then these two young ladies. They really are working these children everyday to get them on their feet, to improve speech and communication, self care skills and cognitive abilities and all at the same time making sure they get the care and love they need. I offered my advice and assured them they are doing a great job, my advice was based on posture, motivational ways to make them move, and strengthening techniques. I spoke with them as I do with parents at work, but also spoke to them as professionals sharing stories of experiences have had in the past, and reinforced that they are definitely doing great with the kids and to focus on the small things and maybe some of their goals will be met much slower than they had hoped, and just advised what aims to set first hand to get them to their ultimate goals eventually. The girls aren't therapists but working as therapists and the best thing these children could have.
 After my travels I visited them again to see how things were going and to work more hands on with the children myself. This was interesting for me, as I've always been conscious of being invasive or over familiar with other peoples children, but the kids were so used to having hugs and kisses they were more than happy to share them with me (heart melt). Many of the children were showing off their abilities as they knew the reasons why I was there, so working with them was easy. At times I felt at a loose end as maybe I was hoping I get these kids producing fantastic results, but I had to remind myself, that they will learn slowly and it's the patience of Nikki and Tori which has got them so far already. This time I was giving advice based on new smaller goals to help with full development of the body. I showed them how to facilitate, reasons why isolating certain muscles is important and things to look for in gait and posture.
  They asked me to work with the physiotherapist who comes in to work with the children which was hard. Hard because it's someone else's territory who hasn't asked for your advice, unlike the girls were doing. I gave it a go, structuring it as to finding out what his goals are for the children, and instantly I knew, he had none. He had no idea what were the goals of the foster mom's and some children he clearly avoided working with. Being careful how I approached the situation I explained I work in a school setting so I have a experience working with parents on skills for life and integrating therapy into busy environments with using little equipment. With one child I made a suggestion and his response was 'he doesn't have the mental connections to do that'. I had to breathe, I had to bite my lip and think very quickly about my response. Thinking a child doesn't have the ability to do anything is not something I dare to think of and even tolerate hearing. It looks like this is the way many therapists can work in the area and unfortunately why my friends are working their butts off to prove these people wrong. I understand the professionals point of view as you have the detachment of what a parent feels and it's easier to not be motivated if a child doesn't achieve much by working with you, but a child will never learn if you don't change your goals to help them succeed. A child will never learn if you don't take time to know them and the way they learn and adapt your program to how they do. A child will never learn if you never work toward the zone of proximal development, a stage they can only reach with your help. Sometimes I wonder if some professionals look at me and wonder if my goals are ever realistic, but I believe I am. I know it's seems advanced at times, and I know it seems challenging, but I never leave them to do that journey alone. Anyways I may not of changed the way he thinks, but at least we streamlined some ideas together, with him too having ownership,which will hopefully give him inspiration to keep changing things up. I will still always be there for Nikki and Tori and their 8 kids and I will still take time out of my routine back home to help them as much as I can.
My two days in Hyderabad were busy, as I tried to get out and see some sights at the children's nap time, but again another shame I couldn't be there more, but it was time for me to visit my family again, and return to life the other side of the globe!