Chandigarh, September 22, 2023: As helping disabled people embodies the fundamental principles of compassion, empathy, and inclusion within society, HOPE – Happiness Offered for People Everywhere, Club of Dikshant International
School, has set an ideal example worth emulating for all. The club recently held a photography exhibition, and a temporary canteen was also set up to raise funds for helping physically challenged individuals.
“Utilizing the funds raised, we initiated the distribution of wheelchairs to various places including parks, religious institutions, old age homes, and lepers’ colonies to enhance the mobility and quality of life for differently-abled individuals. We plan to donate 80 wheelchairs during the session,” said Idant, President of the HOPE club and a Class XII student of Dikshant International School.
Wheelchairs were given to Chandigarh’s Kali Bari Mandir and Sai Temple at a small ceremony held at Press Club; the wheelchairs will be used by physically challenged devotees when they visit the temples. Later, members of the HOPE Club interacted with the media.
Jayati, a Class XII student and a member of the HOPE Club said, “The photography exhibition and canteen were ambitious projects, but the overwhelming support from our school and community showed us that our goals were not impossible. It’s incredible what can happen when people come together for a common cause.”
Muskan, who has been a part of the project right from the inception, added, “It all started about a year back when HOPE Club members conducted a survey on ‘Disabled Friendly Infrastructure,' and we found that most buildings in Chandigarh were not ‘disabled-friendly.’ So we launched a petition, focusing on the provision of rights for the disabled. We realized the magnitude of the problem, and we had to do more. We couldn't sit back and wait for change. We had to be the change.”
The HOPE Club is now busy enhancing the quality of life of the disabled and is also trying to foster a more equitable and accessible world for them.
To add great value to the initiative, Idant Dikshit, founder president of the HOPE Club during his pre-college program at Columbia University, created a blueprint for a ground-breaking mobile application (app) dedicated to helping physically challenged individuals overcome and break barriers. The app, when ready, will connect physically challenged individuals with volunteers from across the country, providing a lifeline of support and promoting inclusivity. It shall enable physically challenged individuals and volunteers to easily sign up, enabling them to participate in this nationwide initiative. Volunteers within a specified distance are promptly alerted to provide various forms of assistance.
To motivate and recognize these volunteers, the app will offer certificates upon completing certain hours of service, incentivizing youth engagement and participation.
Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Mitul Dikshit, Chairman, Dikshant School, said: “Our students, in addressing the urgent needs of differently-abled individuals, are not only instigating change but also cultivating a culture of compassion and social responsibility among their peers. This brings me profound joy and satisfaction.”
It is to be noted that 2.21% of the Indian population is disabled, totaling a whopping 26 million people, so a lot needs to be done to help this important segment of society join the mainstream.
“To achieve this objective, HOPE Club invites all like-minded individuals, organizations, and volunteers to join their mission in building a more inclusive world. Together, we can create a brighter future for all, regardless of the physically challenged individuals’ abilities,” said Mitul.
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