Shishur Sevay
Inclusion inspires compassion.
The girls who were raised and educated in this inclusive home want to give back and take care of others.
Shishur Sevay was founded by Dr. Michelle Harrison in 2006 as a model of inclusive non-institutional care of orphan girls, some with profound disabilities, all of whom were rejected for adoption. The children live inclusively, sharing their lives from meals to TV, classes, and prayer times. Shishur Sevay initially sent the girls to community schools, but in 2013 established Ichche Dana (meaning, I can soar) Inclusive School for all of them. The girls have always expressed the wish to take care of more children, to give back what they have received. Now, as the girls approach young adulthood, Shishur Sevay is expanding into the community. An inclusive play school is being set up, initially for 25 children. This is being done as a community service with no fees.
The purposes are:
- To get the children with disabilities out of their homes. In India they are never seen in public spaces as they are perceived as shameful, and a punishment to the family. Some live their lives isolated in back rooms.
- To have young children with and without disabilities in the same space, playing, accepting.
- To present a model of learning not present in Indian education, that of learning through activities.
- To give the girls of Shishur Sevay the opportunity to teach, and to be a part of the community not as orphan girls, but as leaders and teachers.
- Doctor Harrison will be an active part of the school program and working with the children and teachers on a daily basis. Eventually this model can be expanded and seen as an opportunity for training and learning about inclusive education and bringing inclusion into the public sphere.
"Shishur Sevay is incredibly grateful to our long time friends, Equal Health, for giving us the support to launch this program." Dr. Michelle Harrison, Founder of Shishur Sevay
What We Do:
The Idea – De-institutionalization of orphan and disabled children and creation of inclusive family style group homes. Shishur Sevay is the best practices model of inclusive non-institutional care for lost and abandoned girls, some with profound disabilities, all of whom had already been rejected for adoption. Various studies have suggested between 2-4 lakhs children in India are living in institutions. As these children have no families or connections, Shishur Sevay is responsible for all the costs of raising and educating the girls as well as the enormous expenses required to provide needed medical care, hospitalizations, and rehabilitation of the children with disabilities.
14 years later, Shishur Sevay is spreading its wings. Now we are opening Children's Smart Centre in our community, a free inclusive play school with activity-based learning for underprivileged children to prepare them for schooling. Our girls, including the ones with disabilities, will be teaching.
Children's Smart Centre
The Problem We Saw:
A young child's brain development depends on having an environment of learning. Therefore, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is important for every child to develop skills in language and number sense. Over 85% of a child's cumulative brain development occurs prior to age of 6.
In India this environment is usually not available to the poor and the uneducated. The barriers to their children's later achievement are set early.
Shishur Sevay's Solution: Do Something
Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay has established CHILDREN'S SMART CENTRE, a free inclusive playschool for the underprivileged children aged 2-4+ in the community. The school will include play-based learning, a friendly environment, development of social skills in preparation for school, and a nutritious snack.
The school will follow the new Indian National Education Policy (NEP) and NCERT Pre-School Curriculum of 2019.
A Special Reason to Do This.
The girls who have grown up at Shishur Sevay have wanted to do this for a long time. They want to give to others what they have received and what has allowed them to overcome their obstacles. In doing so, they are also becoming the leaders of the community, a mighty achievement in itself.
CHILDREN'S SMART CENTER will open as soon as the current COVID closings are no longer necessary.