Visit to Pathway

By Lance

The approach road to pathway is along which leads to an incongruous building at the bottom. A sign denotes “pathway dental and medical centre for the mentally retarded” which was not really a good sign. However once you enter to the building and meet Mr prasad and his wife who are co-directors of pathway you soon realise that something much more significant is being delivered here.

Pathway started in 1975 with just 2 children but now provides care to 100 boarding children and 200 day children. Since its inception it has provided care to over 22,000 children. The centre provides education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and arts and crafts. the older children and young adults work in a printshop and a bakery on site as well as in a furniture manufacturing factory. They provide full time employment to 61 people with learning disabilities which makes then the largest employers of people with learning disabilities in India.

Pathway also runs an agrocentre in a rural setting 90k away which provides care and education for other 220 children who undertake farming activities self sufficient.

Our overall impression was of a small group of individuals who have committed themselves to delivering a brighter future for a group of children who are largely ignored by the state and rest of the population. You could not help but be touched by the drigt smiles you encounter in every room and by the comminment of the staff to optimise the ailities of each and every child. This was a very stimulation and impressive start to our indian journey.