Help Smile Trust visits Navkshitij - Home for the Mentally Challenged
Help Smile Trust team visited the campus of Navkshitij, a charitable organisation in Pune (India) on Saturday 23rd December 2017.
Navikshitij aims to look after mentally challenged adult individuals by providing them with a nourishing and encouraging environment full of constructive activities.
The main purpose of the visit was to take a tour of the entire campus and see various activities carried out by mentally challenged people (special friends - term used in Navkshitij). They had the chance to meet Dr. Neelima Desai (President and Founder of Navkshitij) along with her staff, who informed us about the challenges faced by special friends and how Navikshitij was formed and the various activities carried out by such special friends at the campus.
They had the opportunity to observe the special friends making candles, jewellery and paper bags as well as enjoy the dance performance performed by them. The special friends also participate regularly in fitness activities such as gymnasium and yoga.
Help Smile Trust has decided to contribute towards Navkshitij's mission of giving special friends a life of happiness and dignity. Help Smile Trust managed to raise £10,000 this year through the British 10K run held in July 2017. The trustees of Help Smile have decided to support Navkshitij in their following projects:
- Installing new prefabricated metal roofing sheets for three homes
- Annual sponsorship for Special Friend Kunal Shinge
