Company Profile | Jobability

Organization Type:	Organization
Organization Category :	Health/Rehabilitation/Therapy Services, Legal Support/Advocacy, NGO, Training Institutions
Disability:	Locomotor Impairments, Developmental Disabilities
Service Offered:	Accessibility Audit, Accessible Infrastructure Setup, Assistive Aids Evaluation / Assessment / Consulting, Assistive Aids Installation / Implementation / Training, Assistive Aids Maintenance And Support, Assistive Aids Manufacturing / Sales, Awareness Campaigns/Advocacy, Business Development Training, Career Guidance And Placement, Development Organisation, Disability Research / Survey, Education Support/ Scholarships, Funds / Financing, Government, Health Care And Medical Rehabilitation Services, Insurance Scheme Services, Legal Support Services, Lifeskill Training, Livelihood Counselling And Support Services, Micro Finance, Placements, Rehabiliation / Therapy Services, Self Employment, Therapy Specialist, Training, Vocational Training, Welfare Scheme Facilitation Services
Company Name :	Amirthavarshini Charitable Society
Company Logo :
Year of Establishment :	2010
Website Url :	http://amrithavarshini.org/
Company Profile :	Amrithavarshini Charitable Society is a voluntary organisation that works for people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) or brittle bone disease. It is a community initiative of people with OI, their parents, relatives and voluntary associates. The Amrithavarshini story begins with Binu Devassia from Wayanad. Binu, who has OI, needed a surgery that would help him walk, but was unable to raise the funds required for the procedure. However, Dr P.G. Hari, who was Binu’s doctor, introduced him to a number of people in Thiruvananthapuram who helped mobilise the money required for the surgery. Some of those who helped raise funds for Binu’s surgery realised that there were other people with OI who needed support in various forms. And so, in December 2010, this group, which included Latha Nair, K. Ravi, Abhilash V. K. and Dhanya Ravi, created Amrithavarshini as a non-profit to work in the area of OI. In a little over three years, Amrithavarshini’s membership base has touched one hundred. Members range in age from three months to 65 years and are from across Kerala. We are, perhaps, one of the few organisations in India that works exclusively for people with OI. Building a community: Given their limited mobility, many people with OI get few opportunities to leave their homes. In order to overcome this, we organise regular get-togethers of Amrithavarshini’s members. The first event was held in Kozhikode in 2011 and since then, several more such gatherings have been organised thanks to generous financial and logistical support from various well-wishers. These events are filled with lots of fun, but also include sessions with doctors and other medical professionals, educators and others. They also give members an opportunity to meet, share experiences and learn from each other. Above all, they are intended to create a community that works to improve the quality of life of those with OI. Creating livelihoods: A major challenge for many of those with OI, especially those who are adults, is to earn a living. Over the past several months, Amrithavarshini has trained many of its members in a range of vocational skills such as candle and jewellery making, manufacture of paper bags and umbrellas and so on. Products such as costume jewellery, scented candles and umbrellas made by our members are sold at trade fairs and exhibitions, thus generating some income for them. In fact, costume jewellery made by members of Amrithavarshini is sold under the ‘Celestial’ brand. Creating awareness: One of Amrithavarshini’s key objectives is to create more awareness about OI, both among the population at large and also in government. A major achievement in this area is that following our efforts, the Kerala Government has recognised the need to support people with OI. Providing financial support: Though Amrithavarshini operates with limited resources, we work very hard to support our members in all possible ways. As part of this effort, many members receive a regular, though modest, allowance.