Our Impact

Sadhona cares for her daughter Sikha, who has cerebral palsy. When Sadhona’s family realised that Sikha had cerebral palsy, they could not accept her and saw only her disability. Sikha’s father even blamed Sadhona for their daughter’s condition.

All this, unsurprisingly, had an adverse effect on Sadhona’s mental and physical state and she became isolated, too anxious to leave the house with her daughter. The family were also struggling financially so Sadhona was not able to arrange therapy for Sikha or buy nutritious food for the family.

When our charity partner in Bangladesh, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), went to Sadhona’s home to talk to her about our Carers Project, she was very surprised that they were there to talk to her about her issues, but she was keen to hear more and be involved.

Through the project, Sadhona has received training in cow and goat rearing and, with a loan from her Carers Group to get her started, she is now financially independent.

She started by purchasing two goats, and after a year she had eight and was able to sell some of them and repay the initial loan. She combined her profit with some of her own money and was able to buy a cow.

She now has 13 goats and her cow has a calf. She sells 7-8 liters of cow's milk per day and has plans to have a dairy farm in the future. Sadhona has also taught Shikha how to take care of the cows and goats, so that Shikha will be able to continue to earn money in this way when Sadhona is no longer there to care for her.

Sadhona has also benefited from counseling, through Barefoot Counsellors who have been trained as part of our Carers Project, and through joining a Carers Group. The group members help each other with any problems and Sadhona now realises that she is not alone in the challenges she faces. She has people she can confide in, talk to and who are, ultimately, on her side.

Anita cares for her daughter Yunisha, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was 8 months old. When Anita’s family members learned of her daughter’s condition, they told her, “You can take her anywhere you want to, but we are not going to support you.”

As Yunisha was growing up, she wanted to study. Anita had only been able to study up to grade 6 and was determined to give her daughter the education she deserved, but struggled to find a school that would take her due to her disability.

Then she discovered our charity partner, the Self-help Group for Cerebral Palsy (SGCP), who supported Yunisha with physiotherapy and found a school for her.

Through SGCP’s Carers Project, Anita has attended health camps and received medical treatment, as well as advancing her tailoring skills, taking a diploma in Design supported by SGCP, but she says that the most important thing the project has provided her with, is a sense of community through her Carers Group.

When Anita has faced hardships or illness, her friends from the Carers Group have been there for her. “We have monthly meetings, we save our money together and offer support to each other.” She and her group members work together to earn a living, support each other, take care of their children and their own health.

Susila faced the challenging task of caring for her husband, Sethu, who struggled with mental illness, while also managing their household and raising two sons. Despite seeking treatment from local medical facilities, Sethu's condition remained a significant source of stress for the family.

A turning point came for them when the family atteded a mental health camp facilitated by our partner WORD Pudukkottai. Under the guidance of doctors there and with Susila's continued support, Sethu began a consistent medication and support regimen. Gradually, his condition started to improve.

Encouraged by WORD Pudukkottai and our Carers Project, Susila took steps to diversify their family income. She began selling vegetables in neighbouring villages, a venture that proved successful. Their daily profits grew to around 5,000 Rupees, equivalent to about £45, providing much-needed stability for the family and supporting their sons' education.

Now, Susila and Sethu work together in their vegetable business, their partnership strengthening both their family's financial situation and their standing in the community.

Grateful for the positive changes in their lives, Sethu now volunteers with WORD Pudukkottai, offering support to unpaid carers and individuals facing mental health challenges.