Support Geetanjali And Help Her Take Care Of 13 Special Children With Hearing & Speech Impairments

Based out of Laulai village in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Badhir Vidyalaya is the first school in India that has a impaired hearing principal, Mr. Dharmesh Kumar. Dharmesh did massive research about sign languages and the educational needs and requirements of impaired hearing people from the UK. Together with Geetanjali, who has over 17 years of experience working with the impaired hearing community, they started BBV - a one-of-a-kind school that aims to educate impaired hearing children from underprivileged backgrounds. 

Their own parents often consider them a burden but these children are capable of so much  

Geetanjali shares the story of Simmi, a young girl staying at BBV. She hails from a small village in Madhya Pradesh and is impaired hearing and mute. As soon as her parents got to know of her condition, her father abandoned them, and her mother, along with another relative, tried to drown her in the river, thrice. Her grandfather brought her to BBV and since then Simmi is staying here. 

“People still can’t believe that these children can live a normal life. They pity them and spare no time to understand their problems or their language. We have thousands of languages to learn from, and to communicate with but they have just one. Even their own parents shun them sometimes - this is not the life they deserve.”

Bharatiya Badhir Vidyalaya is currently home to 13 children with hearing and speech challenges. Geetanjali, Dharmesh, and their dedicated staff work very hard to give them the best of everything. The school focuses on teaching via Indian Sign Language as opposed to the oralism technique that is used in other schools for impaired hearing children. Oralism is the education of impaired hearing students through oral language by using lip reading, speech, and mimicking the mouth shapes and breathing patterns of speech. Geetanjali and Dharmesh argue that oralism is not a fool-proof technique to impart education to impaired hearing children. 

But besides studies, they’re also given several skill development lessons like art and craft, jewelry making, organic farming, and much more. Their main aim is to help these children fit into the ‘hearing world’ and live a life of respect and dignity. 

“We arrange parties, ice-cream-making sessions, rescue injured animals, and also go for movie nights - this place is so much more than a hostel. It is a home away from home for all those kids who have been made to feel like an outsider for so long.”  

These passionate teachers are on a mission to create a more inclusive world for impaired hearing children, support them now 

For more than a decade now, Geetanjali and Dharmesh have been involved in the field of educating impaired hearing children. They understand their challenges better than no one and are working very hard to give them the life they deserve. But it has been an uphill battle and there have been days when Geetanjali has begged for food and stationery for their children. She has sold all her assets and jewellery to support BBV, yet it’s not enough. 

“One of my children, Nikhil, is profoundly impaired hearing but is resolved to become a pilot. I know it sounds incredulous but in the West, we have seen so many judges, doctors, and engineers with hearing challenges making a mark, so why not in India? Bharatiya Badhir Vidyalaya wants to pave the way for Nikhil and many more like him so that they get all that they deserve. I request you to please support us and help our dreams come true.” 

You can donate groceries, toiletries, and construction materials. BBV needs help with feeding these children warm meals and giving them a safe home. Every donation you make will make a huge difference.