An unique opportunity to serve and learn with SAMADHAN, a 35-yr-old NGO registered under Societies Registration Act of India, with a dual focus on intellectual disability and poverty.It is also a member of national and international organaisations like National Trust, a statutory body of Government of India, Inclusion International,UK and Asian Federation on Intellectual Disabilities (AFID) and International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSID). SAMADHAN has received an international award from the World Bank for its innovative use of local resources and manpower available within the target communities.
Check out www.samadhanindia.org for more information and credentials of the organisation.
Internship Program:
Internship programs at SAMADHAN are designed to offer exposure to students and working professionals from varied academic and professional backgrounds. The design of an internship depends on both the interest and skill areas of the interns as well as requirements of SAMADHAN. This is an intensive engagement and no stipend is offered.
The interns get a chance to explore, know and contribute in important mainstream work of the organization ranging from awareness creation, house-to-house survey, rehabilitation services for the intellectually disabled children, field exposures and documentation, capacity building workshops and training programmes, organising events like health camps, video documentation, preparation of low cost teaching aids, preparation of awareness material, participation in street plays, puppet theatre, creative movement activities and much more.
Our Internship experience will:
- Provide a platform to put into practice and deepen theoretical knowledge of issues in the field of intellectual disability.
- Provide interns an opportunity to learn the operational aspects of disability services
- Provide exposure to understand and analyse the challenges faced by intellectually disabled in their daily lives in areas of poverty
- Provide opportunities to explore and operationalize their own innovative ideas in awareness creation and sensitization on disability issues
Our Offer:
Three main areas are offered of which 90% will be practicals and 10% will be theory:
- Knowledge Base
- Exposure Visits and Praticuum
- Working with community survey workers and house visit
1. Knowledge Base:
For those interested or requiring a more broad based approach to disability we will offer lectures on Status of disability in India including government initiatives and Development of disability services in India. However these will be for groups and not individual students.
2. Exposure visits:
Apart from visits to our own centers visits can be arranged to other agencies and services working in similar areas.
3. Practicals:
Practical work will be in our center located in Dakshinpuri in South Delhi. Dakshinpuri is a low socio economic community where slum dwellers were relocated in “resettlement colonies” and given 22sq. yds of plots for house construction. It is an area where basic facilities for sanitation, hygiene, sewage, water and electricity as well as education and welfare systems are inadequate impacting on the life style of the families living here. Services for the intellectually disabled are almost nil and very few exist for other disabilities.
The interns will have practical exposure and be involved in the following activities provided at SAMADHAN:
- Early intervention (0-6 years): Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy and assessments, Psychological Assessment, creative movement therapy, drama therapy
- Special Education (6+-12 years), Occupational, Speech and Psychological assessments and therapy, creative movement and drama therapy.
- Counseling for parents/caregivers.
- Training in income generating skills for mothers
- Identification of children with disabilities through house-to-house survey, healthcamps
- Awareness and sensitization programmes on disability issues.
Duration:
The dates for this 4 week rotation are flexible and arranged on an individual basis.
The credits for one month program are as follows:
30 Hours per week = 1 credit (6 hrs/day for 5 days/week from Monday to Friday)
4 weeks in a month = 4 credits (120 hours/month)
Requirements:
Students need to submit the completely filled SAMADHAN Internship Application form. Download the form here
Accommodation:
Separate apartments and hotels near the Center can be arranged with the help of SAMADHAN if required.
Transportation:
Taxis or Autos (3-wheeled taxis are available and are inexpensive (about US $ 5 the average fare). Areas in Delhi are mostly well connected by Metro rails and other public transportation systems like buses and cabs like UBER, MERU and OLA.
Immunization and travel precautions:
See CDC’s website recommendations for travel to India www.cdc.gov about immunizations and travel precautions. Ensure good handwashing and general food/ diarrhea precautions.
Visa:
A Valid Passport is required and Visas are required.
Dress code:
Dress as per the weather/ season. For exposure visits and community outreach programs, Kurtas, pyjamas, salwars are recommended to be able to connect with the local communities.
Other Practical issues:
Weather: Summer temperatures in Delhi can be scorching upto 120 degrees Farenheit. Monsoon rains can be very strong.
Cellular telephones: Some US cell phones can be taken to India but tend to be very expensive. STD booths in the markets can be a cheaper alternative to call from India to the US.
Health Insurance: Enquire with your current health insurance carrier in regards to health benefits abroad. Otherwise, health care in India will be private pay.
BUDGET
The Estimated Costs (daily and total) of the Program Are:
- Food: About $10 USD (Total 300 USD)
- Transportation: About $ 10 USD (Total 300 USD) if applicable.
