AVI USA and IDRF: A Partnership that keeps giving to Deepam Therapy Center
Since AVI USA and the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) first joined forces to support our Auroville bioregion partners, Deepam Therapy Center for Special Needs Children has been one of the beneficiaries of that collaboration.
AVI USA’s collaboration with IDRF is rooted in empowering marginalized people with skills, services, and infrastructure grounded in sustainable development. This deeply resonates with Deepam’s own work, supporting mentally and physically challenged youth and their families, a population too often overlooked in the areas around Auroville. IDRF’s matched donations have helped Deepam grow its nutritional and health support for vulnerable children & youth. All of Deepam’s programs are offered free of cost.
Deepam’s story goes back more than three decades, to a simple gathering under the tamarind trees of Kuilapalayam village in January 1992, when a handful of children with special needs first came together for physiotherapy, play, and snacks. Angelika Ehrle, an occupational therapist from Germany, was there from the very beginning, and remains at the helm of Deepam today.
She was soon joined by Lawrence Selvi, a qualified nurse, who trained in speech therapy as there were many deaf children who were given hearing aids. Step by step, the dusty playground grew into a proper center with therapy rooms, a bus to reach children across more than 20 surrounding villages, and a dedicated team of therapists and caregivers — a testament to decades of patient, hands-on commitment to a community that is easy to overlook.
The results of that ongoing partnership are visible in Deepam’s latest interim report, covering January through June of this year.
Through AVI USA’s fiscal sponsorship, donations channeled with IDRF’s support go directly toward the essentials of Deepam’s program: nutrition, healthcare, therapy, education, and transportation. This year, that support helped provide over 3,000 lunches and more than 6,500 healthy snacks to the 25 children in Deepam’s Daycare and Early Intervention programs, along with extra food supplies for families facing hardship at home.
On the healthcare side, funding ensured children with ongoing medical needs — including nine children who require epilepsy medication — had uninterrupted access to treatment. Two new wheelchairs were purchased for children who needed them, and daily hygiene support, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, remained part of the routine.
Therapy is at the heart of Deepam’s approach. Individual physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy sessions are delivered five days a week, adding up to roughly 1,500 sessions a year tailored to each child’s needs. Alongside this clinical work, children take part in educational activities in literacy, numeracy, and communication, as well as vocational training in carpentry, tailoring, and craftwork for older students. Weekly group activities — singing, painting, yoga, swimming, sound healing, and even horse therapy — round out a program that treats each child as a whole person, not a set of needs to be managed.
None of this happens without transportation. Deepam’s bus collects children each morning and brings them home each evening, and also carries them to group activities, local outings, and further trips — including a full-day excursion to the Chennai crocodile farm this past February.
The last six months weren’t without challenges. Rising fuel costs pushed up expenses across the board, from the diesel that runs the bus to the LPG used in the kitchen, and Deepam adapted by cooking grain in-house and securing a grant for an electric scooter to help with errands. The team also welcomed a new Aurovilian staff member with physiotherapy training. The growing administrative demands of receiving donations also required bringing on dedicated office support.Looking forward, Deepam is preparing for annual dental, eye, and blood screenings in July, and the team is already looking ahead to August’s festival season, when the children will take the stage for drama, dance, and singing performances for Lord Krishna’s birthday.
AVI USA is grateful for our continued partnership with IDRF, and for the trust Deepam places in both organizations to help sustain the care its beneficiaries depend on. We look forward to many more years of collaboration in support of this remarkable community.
With your continued support Deepam Therapy Center can continue serving the community bringing health and joy to special needs children.
Consider becoming a monthly donor to Deepam Therapy Center!
