Make The Voices Of Mentally Challenged People Heard By Joining Hands With Umiya Viklang Trust

“Their parents don’t want them, and those who don’t have parents are left on the road to fend for themselves by their families. The condition we find them in is heartbreaking. Some have maggot-filled wounds all over their bodies while others are too weak to even sit up and have a sip of water. All because they’re not like other children,” - Bhavesh Kumar, Founder, Umiya Viklang Trust.

Based out of Gandhinagar, Gujarat, this residential school is home to 40 mentally challenged who have no one in this world to look after their needs. The organisation started in 2005 and since 2011, they have been providing a safe home to people with disabilities. Bhavesh and his team work tirelessly to give them a comfortable life - a life full of happiness and love. 

They may be 50 years old but their mind is like that of a child who is only 5 

Smita has been associated with Umiya Viklang Trust for a long time and now this is like her second home. Her waking hours go into tending to the residents and showering them with love. Speaking about the conditions of the residents, she says, “Some of them are 50 years old but their brains haven’t developed. They’re like a child who is only 5 years old and needs help with every little thing. They’re fully dependent on us.” 

Several young kids come to the organisation - some don’t have families while the others were too difficult to be taken care of at home. The Trust does its best to understand their needs and support them. They’re given nutritious meals, a warm bed, and proper medicines to start with. Soon, they’re being involved in extracurricular activities to stimulate their minds and slowly make them capable of doing things on their own. 

“The society still considers them a burden. That is why, we see so many cases of abandonment. At Umiya Welfare Trust we aim to make them self-sufficient. We have seen so many kids with lots of potential - someone is good at drawing, someone plays an instrument and there are some who love pottery. They just need the right kind of care and they are sure to shine bright,” - Bhavesh Kumar.  

Bhavesh is determined to build an inclusive society but it is an uphill battle  

Umiya Welfare Trust has been working hard for the last 12 years to bring about a change in the mindset of society with regard to mentally challenged people. This NGO in Gujarat is a haven for all those who have only pain and suffering. While Bhavesh, Smita, and the entire team are hopeful of a better tomorrow, there are constraints that often come their way. 

“We want to take in more and more people in need and have even started constructing a new building but the electrical fittings, plumbing work, etc are left. Apart from that, we are always in need of groceries and hygiene supplies. We want to give our residents, the best of everything - without your support, that won’t be possible.” 

Donate construction materials, groceries, and hygiene supplies to Umiya Viklang Trust and help Bhavesh be a force of change. 

About the NGO: Based out of Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Umiya Viklang Trust is a residential school that is home to 40 mentally challenged who have no one in this world to look after their needs. The organization started in 2005 and since 2011, they have been providing a safe home to people with disabilities. Bhavesh and his team work tirelessly to give them a comfortable life - a life full of happiness and love. Their residents are either orphans or have been abandoned by their own families. Here, they learn to live their lives on their own terms, without being dependent on anyone.