Bangalore, August 12 2018---On International Youth Day 2018, a team of young Instagrammers, enthusiastic writers and photographers in Bangalore, made their way to AMBA, a unique and special social enterprise that trains adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities using Information Technology, Peer Training & Peer Supervision.. The team spoke to many members of the team at AMBA and those working relentlessly to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. 

Here we profile some of the people and the stories that make them special:

Team headed by Shruthi Mohan, 
Volunteers- Gowri Om, Deepti Verma, Ershad, Asish Menon and Family, Yamuna Shastry 

1. Kalpana V  | Head Trainer at AMBA

When Kalpana walked in three years ago, AMBA had trained 71 centres nationwide, now the number has grown to 475. She recounts to the time when she first came to the AMBA centre and saw 120 intellectually disabled persons and realised that if in the small microcosm within Bangalore there were so many, that with scale she’d be able to reach many more. She is the head of training at Amba and works at their centre in Sanjay Nagar. Gliding through rows of trainees undergoing the program, she points to people, identifies them accurately by names and faces light instantly up at the recognition. There is an instant pleasant exchange of ‘Hello, how are you?’. Her current target is set by scouring the internet to identify and train more centres. Kerala alone, she says, has a potential of 600 institutions working with intellectual disability and therefore the scope of training them is immense. Training as a peer, she says, is the best way to pass knowledge and build a community of mutual support that is responsible for each other. She has been at the centre three years now. Having passed out of SSLC and gotten married immediately, she did not have the approval of her husband to pursue work until her father, who was a watchman at another centre told her there was an opening. However, the internal urge to be a self-sustained and contributing member in the society has much in common with the aspirations of her intellectually disabled and non-disabled colleagues. She calls their personalities child-like much like how she recognises herself, but clarifies that they are not children. All the intellectually disabled trainees and trainers are her colleagues, who are a part of the large supportive family that does not line the pursuit of economic empowerment as unachievable. Midst this, she breaks into laughter when asked what she finds the most endearing about the relationship she shares with her colleagues.

Kalpana’s sister’s son (nephew) who is 13 years old has been identified as autistic. After a three year wait, her nephew too will be able to integrate himself into this system. For Kalpana who says she knows no limits to optimism, the eyes are set on getting as many centres to get the chain reaction rolling.

2.  Pushpalatha D | Receptionist 

Dressed in a red salwar, with her hands dug inside the pockets of her sweater reflecting the pleasant weather of Bangalore, she is seated at the reception desk of AMBA. Greeting us seconds after we have entered the building, she passes on a register to mark our entry. With a grin on her face, she asks us for coffee and tea, and without a sense of hesitation, we oblige. A day in the life of 
Pushpalatha D is attending calls and visitors and making sure the enquiries are answered. It was three years ago that she started working at AMBA and she confesses that there has been no looking back. On most of the days, when she feels low, she looks around herself to see the people at AMBA who are training the intellectually abled to draw inspiration from. When asked who is her role model, she takes no seconds to point at Sugandha Sukrutaraj, the CEO of AMBA. She speaks to everyone as though she’s known them for decades and that is what makes her special. She is enterprising and compassionate and I would like to become like her, says Pushpalatha. 

3.  Gowda | Security Guard 

It has been three years since Gowda is working at AMBA. A resident security guard, he lives at the premises keeping an hawk’s eye on every movement. A native of Mandya in Karnataka, his day starts before anybody and ends after the campus is empty. He confesses that the best part of his job is to guard a place where people with special needs not only find happiness in being their busy selves but it also is their home. “Ee thara mane ge yen aguthey madam?” which translates into, what will happen to a house like this, madam, Gowda asks when I question him about how important his job is. 

He shares that his daily job is to ensure that every child who steps into AMBA is handed to the respective assistant. Timely assistance in helping them walk, passing on the wheel chair, closing and opening doors for them. Even while speaking to me Gowda’s eyes are onlooking the attendees, making his presence felt. ‘Their families and parents rely on us to keep them safe, madam, it definitely is an important task he grins, before walking towards the gate to open it for a visitor. Few heroes indeed, don’t wear a cape.

4. Anil Kumar K.S | Peer Director

or 44-year-old Anil Kumar K.S his biggest strength was his mother. In 2005, when he lost her to a road accident, his world came crashing down. A beloved of lord Krishna, Anil performs 108 japa (chantings) everyday. For someone who has tried a series of job from operating a generator, screen printing, lathe work and also as a steward, Anil recollects the time he was working with Hotel Capitol. Though he loved his job, his colleagues did not appreciate his presence. On few days, they would physically abuse him; like poking with a fork, stick pins to the chair, hit him every time he would pass by and eve tease, these incidents forced him to quit his job. It was only after a relative suggested AMBA that he was introduced to a world that not only looked his but also promised to embrace him for he was. 

It's been 6.5 years since Anil is working at AMBA. Roped in as a Data Entry Operator, Anil is today serving as Peer Director. With eyes constantly shying away, he confesses that his role models are Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli and he never misses even a single cricket match of theirs. Apart from his daily job, he also works as the Hospitality head at AMBA. Every visit guest and their logistics is Anil’s responsibility and he says that he loves playing the host. 

5. Bharathi Srinivasan| Associate trustee and team leader

Dressed in a kurta and pyjama, Bharathi has hands down the most endearing smile. Since the last 11 years, she walked hand in hand with AMBA while it took its baby steps. Once a beneficiary of the education module, she is today an Associate trustee and team leader. On most of the days, she teaches her peers on how to use MS Word, Excel and paint. 
Hassled between her trainee group, when we asked her if we could speak to her, her first reaction was, ‘Have you informed and taken permission from Sugandha ma’am?’ With a confirmatory look on your faces and a wide smile, I’m already in awe of this girl. Bharathi has seen the organisation evolve from her batch, to the present 400+ centres it caters to. When asked what is she in it for?, she replies, ‘ Its for the warmth and respect. It is here that I learnt that I can lead a life of dignity and independence. She further adds that, “We are not looking for charity, we are looking for work”. Her eyes lighten up on the mention of a recent CII event held in Delhi where she represented amongst many dignitaries and was also a finalist. On being asked how does she want to be remembered, she says I like being called AMBA Bharathi, ma’am. 

6. Priya Chandrashekar | Peer Educator and Trainee

Winner of the 2013 CII Women Exemplar Award, 31 year old Priya hails from Kerala. It has been 11 long years that Priya is working with AMBA. For someone who started out as a student herself, today, Priya is an integral part of the organisation. In the last few years, she has trained over 250 individuals and enabled the training of another 1200 of them. Serving as a senior trainer to enable sustainable livelihood to the community using a visual and functional process of learning, she uses computer, as a tool to enable data entry for various administrators jobs. 

She says her biggest strength is her parents who foresaw her potential, beyond her health conditions. She confesses that its the parents who shape their kid’s future and god bless individuals like Sugandha ma’am who are willing to nurture us inspire of all our flaws. There is an immense sense of gratitude in her eyes towards the founder of AMBA. 

For more information write to: 

Ms. Radhika Bhatnagar : r.bhatnagar@unesco.org

For images from the Instameets: https://www.instagram.com/unesco_mgiep/
Facebook album: https://bit.ly/2BcTpho

Follow UNESCO MGIEP:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook 

Photo Credits: Shruthi Mohan and team