Foreword

Warm greetings from Swabodhini!

The month of March began on a joyful and vibrant note with our Annual Day celebrations. Our children lit up the stage with their delightful performances, and it was a true honour to have Mr. Ranjit Pratap, Chairman & Managing Director of Rayala Corporation Pvt. Ltd., as our Chief Guest, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Uma Ranjit Pratap.

We were also privileged to host a team of four departmental heads from Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd., who conducted interviews with our vocational students for potential employment opportunities. It was a moment of pride to see our students step up with confidence.

In another encouraging development, a team from the Madras School of Social Work visited our Tondiarpet Centre to evaluate our impact. We are delighted that they were impressed with our work and the visible progress of our children.

We are pleased to share that BumbleB Trust and RAMCO Cements, in association with Swabodhini, organized an assessment camp in Virudhunagar to identify children with special needs. A dedicated team from Swabodhini—including a special educator, speech therapist, and occupational therapist—conducted the assessments.

Our Trustee, Director, and Centre Heads visited Schwing Stetter at their Irungattukottai facility to explore collaboration opportunities aimed at supporting children with special needs in the surrounding communities.

We also welcomed visits from a group of women employees from Kamarajar Port Ltd. and a team of vocational instructors and special educators from Worth Trust, Katpadi. These exchanges were enriching and fostered mutual learning.

As always, we wrapped up the month with our cheerful birthday celebrations for both students and staff on the last working day.

Looking forward to bringing you more updates next month!

Best Regards,
Nandini Priyakumari
Director
Swabodhini School and Vocational Center for Special Children

At Swabodhini School & Vocational Centre, we strive to empower our students by equipping them with skills that enable them to lead independent and dignified lives. As part of this mission, after completing their one-year accredited vocational course, we work towards placing them in companies where they can earn and contribute to their families.

On March 6th, Ms Kusuma, Mr Anand and Mr Ramesh Kanna and Ms Krithika from Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd visited our campus to interview our vocational students for potential employment opportunities. Grundfos has been a valued partner in our journey, already employing some of our interns alongside a dedicated job coach to ensure a smooth transition into the workplace.

On March 10th, a team from Madras School of Social Work (MSSW) visited our Tondiarpet Centre to conduct an impact survey. They interacted with our special educators, therapists and parents and got their feedback.

Dr. Vidya Venkatesh visited our Thiruvanmiyur Centre and spent time interacting with the students

Our staff attended the 18th Nutrifest on March 14, 2025, organized by Maduram Narayanan Centre as part of the Annapoorna Project. The event focused on nutrition education for parents of special children, highlighting the nutritive value of foods and innovative meal preparation. This year’s theme, “Recipes with Healthy Substitute Ingredients,” featured a cookery competition where mothers showcased creative and nutritious dishes. It was an insightful experience promoting healthy and balanced diets for children with special needs.

All four of our Physical Education instructors attended the “Adapted Sports for Persons with Disabilities” workshop at The Clarke School on March 15, 2025. The event focused on inclusive sports, fitness, and well-being for children with special needs. Our staff gained valuable insights from experts in the field, enhancing their skills to support our students better.

BumbleB Trust’s Kalvi40 and RAMCO Cements in association with Swabodhini, conducted an Assessment Camp to identify children with special needs in Virudhunagar.

Our team, Mr. Kumaran (Special Educator), Mr. Rajaratham (Occupational Therapist), and Mr. Jeeva (Speech Therapist), conducted assessments for 12 special needs students as part of the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program. This initiative aims to identify and support

children with special needs in rural areas, ensuring they receive the care and interventions they require.

On 17th March, in commemoration of Women’s Day, women employees from Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) visited our Tondiarpet Centre as part of a community engagement initiative. They toured the campus, visiting our specialized classrooms, sensory room, therapy rooms and vocational training units. The team observed speech and occupational therapy sessions and learned about our life skills training programs that promote independence. The visit concluded with an exhibition of handmade products by our students, which the employees greatly appreciated—many of them purchased the items and expressed how impressed they were by the creativity and quality of the work.

On March 21st, Swabodhini School & Vocational Centre celebrated World Down Syndrome Day with a joyful and inclusive program. The children participated in games, music, and dance activities, spreading smiles and positivity. As part of the event, videos of achievers with Down Syndrome were played to inspire the students, including a special message from a former Swabodhini student now working at Hilton Qatar, who shared his wishes and encouragement with the children.

A 13-member team from Worth Trust, including vocational instructors and special educators, visited our centre. They interacted with our staff, observed classroom activities, and explored our vocational training units.

On March 25, 2025, our Trustee Mrs. Malavika Harish Lakshman, along with Director, and Centre Heads Ms. Anita and Ms. Sowmiya, visited the Schwing Stetter facility in Irungattukottai. They were warmly welcomed by the CSR Head, Admin, and Finance teams from Schwing Stetter. The visit focused on exploring collaboration opportunities and understanding the company’s CSR initiatives that align with our vision for supporting children with special needs.

As part of their fieldwork, Ms. Sindhu from MSW department – Guru Nanak College conducted a Community Outreach Program on 11th March 2025. On the same day, Ms. Madhumitha and Ms. Narashimapriya, also from MSW – GNC, led another session engaging with the community and spreading awareness about support for individuals with special needs.

As usual, we celebrated the monthly birthdays of our students and staff with joy and togetherness. Everyone came together to share warm wishes, cake, and smiles, making it a cheerful moment for all!